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ARD Rechecks Gaza Local Staff After ZDF Cuts Ties Over Hamas Link

Germany's antisemitism commissioner urges rigorous vetting to protect editorial neutrality.

Overview

  • ARD says it interviewed its Gaza-based individuals this week and reviewed their social-media activity, with staff reaffirming they have no ties to terrorist organizations.
  • The broadcaster stresses it works with a small number of local individuals rather than production companies and says material is cross-checked against multiple sources.
  • ZDF reports it received an Israeli document identifying a technician at its Gaza partner Palestine Media Production as a Hamas member and has ended the cooperation.
  • ZDF clarifies the killed technician was not its employee and had no role in editorial decisions after earlier posts had referred to him as a colleague.
  • Federal antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein calls for fact-based, neutral reporting and stricter safeguards, as opinion pieces keep pressure on public-broadcaster leadership including ARD chair Florian Hager.