The Final Moments of a Swiss University Lecturer Who Wrote "Hamas Airstrikes Are a Gift"

Lecturer at University of Bern Middle East and Muslim Societies Institute
School States "Loss of Trust in University Education" Leads to Dismissal Decision

An instructor at a state university in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, was fired after posting a message on X (formerly Twitter) supporting the Israeli airstrikes by the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

The instructor described Hamas's indiscriminate shelling of Israel on the 7th as "the best birthday present" and posted a video of the attack, adding "Shabbat Shalom."

On the 8th (local time), missiles exploded in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, due to an Israeli airstrike.
[Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 17th (local time), the University of Bern announced in a press release that it had dismissed the instructor affiliated with the university's Middle East and Muslim Societies Research Institute.

The university stated, "Our university is facing an unprecedented incident that has caused enormous public outrage," and added, "We condemn all forms of violence and actions supporting it. Controversial posts on social media are unacceptable."

A press release from the University of Bern regarding a certain lecturer from the Institute of Middle Eastern and Muslim Societies at the University of Bern posting a pro-Hamas article.
[Photo by University of Bern]

The University of Bern is a state comprehensive university receiving financial support and regulation from the canton of Bern. The university views the instructor's actions as severely damaging the credibility of university education and decided on dismissal accordingly.

The university is also conducting an administrative investigation into the Middle East and Muslim Societies Research Institute to which the instructor belonged. The co-director of this institute will be suspended from duties during the investigation.

The Bern cantonal prosecutor's office is also investigating whether the instructor can be held criminally responsible in connection with this incident.

Meanwhile, on the 11th day since the outbreak of war triggered by Hamas's airstrikes, Israeli military airstrikes continued, reportedly killing at least 500 people on this day alone.

Warnings have been issued that fuel reserves at hospitals across the Gaza Strip are only sufficient for one day, and food supplies in stores will last only 4 to 5 days. As Israel's full blockade of the Gaza Strip prolongs, the humanitarian crisis for local residents is worsening.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.