A German television moderator, Bettina Böttinger, has sparked controversy by stating that Palestinians celebrating the exchange of hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas are worse than animals.
Last week, Israel and the Hamas agreed to a truce, ending 15 months of intense fighting. The agreement involves the release of all hostages by both sides. On Sunday, the Hamas released three Israeli hostages who had been held since October 7, 2023, while Tel Aviv released several Palestinian prisoners.
On Monday, Böttinger, a long-time WDR employee, responded to a post on X, in which Palestinian civilians celebrating the hostage exchange with armed fighters were described as “animals.” She replied in German, “No, animals have dignity, which these idiots do not have.”
Böttinger has since deleted her post. A TV veteran, she has worked at the WDR since 1985 and is currently a co-moderator of the talk show “Kölner Treff” a position she took up in 2017, according to her vita. Böttinger has also moderated the presentation of several prestigious German media awards, including the Grimme Prize and the German Camera Award.
Following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel vowed to destroy the Palestinian group, which is headquartered in the Gaza Strip. The attack killed around 1,100 people and brought over 200 hostages to Gaza. The Israeli military operation has caused massive damage in the Palestinian enclave and, according to local health authorities, has cost at least 46,000 lives.
Violence did not remain confined to Israel and Gaza. Israeli intelligence and the military have targeted Lebanon in an effort to weaken the Hezbollah, which supports the Hamas. Direct rocket exchanges between Israel and Iran marked a significant escalation in the conflict between the two regional powers.