In a July 2014 debate, Buttu responded to Hillel Neuer's request that Buttu should renounce Hamas because it is "anti-woman, anti-gay, anti-human rights" with "if you want me to renounce because they are anti-woman, anti-everything then I will also renounce Israel which is also anti-woman, anti-free speech, anti-gay, anti-everything." To which Hillel replied "Diana, what you are saying is preposterous. In Tel Aviv there's a gay parade every year." Buttu explained her comment was in reference to "Israel deflecting blame from its war crimes" by blaming Hamas.