ZDF Cuts Ties After Israel Reveals Gaza Engineer Was Hamas Squad Leader

Germany's public broadcaster ZDF has confirmed that a 37-year-old engineer working for its long-time Gaza-based production partner, Palestine Media Production (PMP), was a member of the Hamas terror organization. The revelation comes after Israel provided the broadcaster with documentary evidence, prompting ZDF to suspend its decades-long collaboration with the firm.

The employee, identified as Ahmed As'ad Muhammad Abu Matar, was killed on October 19 in an Israeli airstrike on PMP's offices in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. Initial reports from ZDF condemned the attack as part of a "pattern" targeting journalists and media workers, with over 200 such deaths in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.

ZDF Editor-in-Chief Bettina Schausten expressed condolences, stating, "It is unacceptable for media professionals to be attacked while doing their work." However, in a statement released Monday, ZDF said Israeli authorities had responded to its request for clarification by presenting "a corresponding document" proving Abu Matar's affiliation with Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades.

The broadcaster described him as a "squad leader" in the group, though it remains unclear if he was actively engaged in combat at the time of the strike or involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

Abu Matar handled transmission technology for PMP and was not directly involved in journalistic content, according to ZDF.

"This confirms that ZDF employed and paid a man who simultaneously belonged to the military arm of the Islamist terror organization Hamas," ZDF stated, announcing an immediate halt to operations with PMP, a partner since 1996 that has collaborated closely with ZDF's Tel Aviv studio.

The broadcaster emphasized that no other Hamas members are known to be employed by PMP but stressed the need for heightened scrutiny of partners in conflict zones.The incident has sparked backlash on social media and in German outlets, with critics accusing ZDF of indirectly funding Hamas through public broadcasting fees (GEZ) via its payments to PMP.

Conservative commentators, including users on X, labeled it a "scandal" and called for investigations into ZDF's vetting processes, with one post quipping, "18.36 € a month for Hamas propaganda straight from the source."

Others highlighted the irony of ZDF's initial outrage, suggesting it exemplifies biased coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

ZDF, in its official response, welcomed the clarification and reiterated its commitment to protecting media workers, noting Gaza as the world's most dangerous place for journalists.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reports 224 media workers killed in Gaza since October 2023, though it includes cases disputed by Israel, such as those involving alleged Hamas ties.

Israel's military has not commented further but previously described the strike as targeted, contradicting ZDF's early portrayal of it as an assault on civilians.