CNN’s renowned international anchor has reversed her stance after initially minimizing the ordeal faced by Israeli hostages.

Christiane Amanpour suggested that the hostages “might have received better treatment than Gazans” due to Hamas’s interests in using them as bargaining tools in negotiations with Israel.

Her remarks followed the release of all 20 surviving hostages on Monday morning, a resolution achieved through a deal brokered by Donald Trump between Israel and Hamas, which brought an end to the devastating conflict.

“It’s been an incredibly harsh two years for them, yet they might have been treated better than the average Gazan,” Amanpour stated during a broadcast.

“This is because the Israeli hostages were the bargaining chips that Hamas possessed,” she explained.

After facing immediate backlash on social media, Amanpour issued a comprehensive apology on-air, which was also shared in a post on X.

‘Earlier live on air, I spoke about what a day of real joy this is, for Israeli families whose loved ones are finally being returned from two years of horrific Hamas captivity, and for civilians in Gaza, who have finally had a reprieve from two years of brutal, deadly war.

‘I noted that for the hostages who are finally home, it will take a long time for them to recover mentally and physically.

Christiane Amanpour is backtracking after making insensitive comments about the Israeli hostage release

The comment comes after the release of all 20 living hostages Monday morning

The anchor quickly faced social media backlash for comparing the experiences of Gazans and Israeli hostages

‘But I regret also saying that they may have been treated better than many Gazans because Hamas used these hostages as pawns and bargaining chips.’

She admitted her comments were ‘insensitive’ and ‘wrong’ and apologized while adding she is ‘horrified at what Hamas has subjected them to over two long years.’

Reflecting on the times she spoke to former hostages and their families she said: ‘They’ve told me their stories of barely being able to breathe in the tunnels, not being allowed to cry, being starved and made to dig their own graves.

‘And of course today, some of the hostages are coming back in body bags.’

Critics slammed the anchor, calling her a ‘terror enabler and a horrible human.’

‘This isn’t your first hate filled comment and you are only apologizing to save your job. Resign now you demon,’ one fiery comment said.

‘You engaged in egregious journalistic malpractice and malicious editorializing. You “regret”? That’s not good enough. Utterly disgraceful,’ another lashed.

Richard Grenell, Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions of US, branded her a ‘sick woman’ on X.

Amanpour issued a lengthy on-air apology after making the insensitive remarks

Richard Grenell, Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions of US, branded her a ‘sick woman’ on X

‘She’s literally pro-Hamas.

‘You can feel how mad she is with the release of hostages by Trump.

‘And she says “The Abraham Accords aren’t peace deals”’, he wrote.

Others expressed mixed emotions toward the seasoned anchor’s apology, some even accepted it. 

‘Thank you for the apology, and I believe you regret your words. But please also ask yourself why you said them,’ one X comment read.

‘Good for you to apologize! I always enjoyed your intellect and professionalism but your statements earlier were really bad….’ another said.

Captives who spent 738 days held by Hamas were reunited with families on Monday, prior to Amanpour’s comments.

The day Israel has dreamt of for more than two years finally arrived today as the last of the hostages returned from Gaza.

In emotional scenes, captives who had spent 738 days held by Hamas were reunited with parents, families, friends and loved ones.

Former hostages ran straight into the arms of loved ones, who have spent every day since October 7, 2023 fighting for their release from grueling captivity.

Amanpour also sparked outrage last October after she insisted Iran ‘does not want conflict’ at the exact moment they rained missiles on Israel. 

The chief international anchor has been with CNN for over 40 years, since 1983.