Critics slammed CBS anchor Gayle King over an interview with a man whose 8-year-old daughter was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and taken into Gaza on October 7.
King spoke with Thomas Hand, an Irish-born man who came to Israel as a volunteer some thirty years earlier and, despite plans to stay only a few months, never left. He survived the massacre on October 7 only to receive the news that his eight-year-old daughter Emily had likely been killed.
In the weeks since, Hand learned that his daughter is believed to be among the hostages who were taken by Hamas back into Gaza after the initial attack — and when he spoke to King about her, the CBS anchor paused to remind him that Palestinian children were suffering too.
WATCH:
WATCH: CBS's Gayle King LECTURES the father of a eight-year-old Israeli girl being held hostage by Hamas that "innocent children in Pales –Palestinians…are dying" too just as "innocent Israeli children" and, b/c of "politics," "no one seems to be able to say enough, stop" pic.twitter.com/5qkg2QUMNn
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 15, 2023
“Now this seems to be all about politics,” King said. “What do you say about that? You know, you have innocent children in Palest — Palestinians who are dying, innocent Israeli children who are dying, and no one seems to be able to say, ‘Enough, stop that.'”
Hand let out a long sigh before replying, “I’m not interested in politics at all. My only concern is getting Emily back.”
Critics responded to King’s framing, saying that King was out of line for bringing politics into the discussion with a grieving father who just wanted his daughter to come home.
“This is disgusting. How dare she try to get the father of an 8-year-old Israeli hostage to comment on the Palestinian children (who are suffering bc of Hamas, not Israel) as if ‘well, violence on both sides!’ Show some damn sensitivity to a grieving dad.” Megyn Kelly posted.
This is disgusting. How dare she try to get the father of an 8-year-old Israeli hostage to comment on the Palestinian children (who are suffering bc of Hamas, not Israel) as if “well, violence on both sides!” Show some damn sensitivity to a grieving dad. https://t.co/zWvay5zkYw
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) November 16, 2023
“Along with needing @BenThompsonTV to apologize for his smug hostility to @EylonALevy on the @BBCNews, @GayleKing owes an apology to Thomas Hand for her shocking insensitivity towards him and his motherless 8-year-old daughter who is being held captive by #Hamas. The media has lost their damn mind,” actress Patricia Heaton added.
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Along with needing @BenThompsonTV to apologize for his smug hostility to @EylonALevy on the @BBCNews, @GayleKing owes an apology to Thomas Hand for her shocking insensitivity towards him and his motherless 8-year-old daughter who is being held captive by #Hamas. The media has… https://t.co/iyV4ERaQ4H
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) November 16, 2023
“This makes me sick. His daughter is being held hostage by terrorists and @GayleKing says it’s a political problem. She’s shown that she’s able to be sensitive with other interview subjects. Why not this one? What is her bias here that won’t let her see this human tragedy?” Lahav Harkov said.
This makes me sick. His daughter is being held hostage by terrorists and @GayleKing says it’s a political problem. She’s shown that she’s able to be sensitive with other interview subjects. Why not this one? What is her bias here that won’t let her see this human tragedy? https://t.co/qnPVgmjA8b
— Lahav Harkov 🎗️ (@LahavHarkov) November 16, 2023
“This is what happens when you can’t see Israelis as human beings. You talk to a father whose 8 year old is being held by monstrous horrific terrorists who raped & mutilated women and butchered entire families and ask him about politics. Abhorrent,” another added.
This is what happens when you can't see Israelis as human beings. You talk to a father whose 8 year old is being held by monstrous horrific terrorists who raped & mutilated women and butchered entire families and ask him about politics. Abhorrent https://t.co/NZiJntaWv8
— Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll (@skjask) November 16, 2023