Pro-Palestinian Activists Occupy ZDF Capital Studio in Berlin
Berlin – A group of approximately 12 activists occupied the atrium of the ZDF (Zweites Deutsches fernsehen) capital studio in berlin on Tuesday, staging a protest linked to the broadcaster’s previous collaboration with a Hamas member. The demonstration, which lasted for over an hour, centered on accusations of German media complicity in what activists termed “Israel’s genocide” in Gaza.
The protest stems from a case confirmed by ZDF in October, following a Bild report, revealing that a TV engineer working for a Gaza-based production company contracted by the broadcaster was identified as a member of Hamas. Israeli authorities provided documentation supporting this claim; the engineer was later killed in an Israeli strike, prompting ZDF to sever ties with the production firm. The incident has ignited criticism of ZDF’s vetting processes and fueled broader accusations of bias in German media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Police secured the entrance to the building during the occupation and confirmed the protest was registered to conclude at 1 PM. Activists distributed flyers bearing slogans such as “Gaza is also your fault” and accusing German politicians and media of generating consensus for ”war crimes” through “lies, hate, and censorship.”
A ZDF spokesperson stated that representatives from the editorial team offered to engage in dialog with the protesters, but their attempts were repeatedly drowned out by chants. While police reported the demonstration remained peaceful,no personal details were recorded as no formal complaint of trespassing was filed.
The incident underscores growing tensions surrounding media coverage of the conflict and the increasing scrutiny faced by German broadcasters regarding their relationships with individuals and organizations linked to designated terrorist groups. Further demonstrations or responses from ZDF have not been announced as of this report.
