Worked for production company: Union criticizes ZDF sharply after death of Hamas member

Following the announcement that a Hamas member had worked for a production company for ZDF, criticism from the CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union) has been pouring in. Whether there are further cases also needs to be clarified. The broadcaster emphasizes that the man killed was never involved in journalistic matters.

Politicians from the CDU and CSU sharply criticized ZDF after the Hamas membership of a production company technician killed in the Gaza Strip became known. The fact that ZDF apparently was not aware of the man's membership in the radical Islamic organization is "a scandal that deeply shakes trust in public broadcasting," Ottilie Klein, spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group for culture and media, told "Bild."

She expects "that ZDF will now consistently and thoroughly investigate how this could have happened and whether there are other similar cases," said the CDU MP. "Above all, however, it must be investigated whether Hamas and its supporters, through this production company, had any influence on the nature and content of ZDF's reporting."

ZDF confirmed that the man worked as a technician in the field of broadcast technology and was "not involved in journalistic matters." "Due to his role, there was no contact between the ZDF studio in Tel Aviv and the killed engineer," the broadcaster said in a statement. The man was not a ZDF employee.

CSU: Hamas terrorist "outrageous" for ZDF

The 37-year-old man killed in an Israeli attack worked for the production company PMP, which also works on behalf of ZDF. ZDF had already announced on Monday that, at the broadcaster's request, the Israeli army had presented a document confirming the man's Hamas membership. ZDF emphasized that there was no evidence that other PMP employees could be Hamas members. However, cooperation with PMP has been suspended until further notice.

Union politicians weren't satisfied with this. "The fact that a Hamas terrorist worked for ZDF is an outrageous incident," CSU General Secretary Martin Huber told Bild. "This seriously damages the credibility and previous reporting on the conflict." Huber demanded consequences: "ZDF and all reporters must ensure that they do not employ Hamas terrorists and spread Hamas propaganda."

Armin Laschet, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, also criticized ZDF: "The fact that ZDF, in twelve years of cooperation, has failed to notice that one of its employees, as a platoon commander for Hamas, is simultaneously actively involved in terrorism against Israel speaks volumes," Laschet told Bild. "Disguising themselves as alleged journalists and technicians is one of the most perfidious methods used by Islamists. Unfortunately, far too many media outlets around the world have fallen for this in their reporting."

Years of collaboration with production company

Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, called for a general clarification of Hamas's influence on the media. "It is the responsibility of the local media to inform viewers about the extent of Hamas' infiltration," Prosor told the German newspaper "Die Welt." Hamas deliberately uses images as a weapon. The ZDF incident is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Many alleged journalists have already been exposed as terrorists," Prosor said. "Even if only the cable operator works for Hamas, the head of the local production company thinks twice about which images are sent to Germany. The Hamas filter works automatically."

The engineer and the eight-year-old son of another PMP employee were killed in a rocket attack in Deir el-Balah, southern Gaza, on October 19. ZDF reportedly had worked with the company for many years.