The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th has a “dimension that leaves you speechless,” says FDP politician Strack-Zimmermann on “Hart aber fair”. The defense expert gives further details of the massacre that relatives of the Hamas hostages reported to her.
It is the last hard but fair edition of this year. Next year the show will start with a new concept. On Monday evening, the guests of the talk show will look back at the year that is coming to an end, especially at the two wars that shaped it: the Middle East conflict and the war in Ukraine.
The pictures from Israel from October 7th certainly couldn’t leave anyone cold. On that day, Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip invaded the country. “There are pictures that have not yet been published and that you shouldn’t look at,” says ZDF correspondent Katrin Eigendorf in the program. The Hamas attack had a traumatizing effect on the entire country of Israel.
FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also takes another look at the atrocities committed by the Islamists in Israel. Two weeks ago she spoke to relatives of the hostages who were held by Hamas terrorists. The politician reports on pregnant women whose bodies were cut open and the fetus was torn out, and on women who were raped and filmed – with their own cell phones. The attack has a “dimension that leaves you speechless,” says the politician. The brutality of Hamas was completely underestimated.
“The biggest wimps in the history of war”
“For me there is another point that is important and one that I think about again and again,” adds Spiegel journalist Markus Feldenkirchen: “Some people call these Hamas men fighters or warriors. No: they are disgusting terrorists. If they were warriors, they would be “They really are the biggest wimps in the history of war.”
The Hamas terrorists massacred defenseless people at a festival and ambushed old, defenseless and unarmed people in the kibbutzim. “And what they’re doing now is exactly the same: when the Israelis attack them now, they’re hiding behind children, behind sick people in hospitals, and that’s the most dishonorable and gutless thing I’ve ever seen.”
Political and military scientist Carlo Masala analyzes that the fact that Hamas’ attack was able to succeed at all was a classic failure of the Israeli security forces. “There should have been battalions in front of the fences through which Hamas broke through, but there were only surveillance systems that were turned off by Hamas because the battalions were in the West Bank, where they were supposed to protect the settlers,” explains Masala. The security forces in Israel assumed that Hamas was up to something, but they did not take the threat seriously.
“Israel is breaking international law”
With its attack on the Gaza Strip, Israel now wants to ensure that Hamas no longer poses a threat to the country. But Israel’s defense measures are now being heavily criticized. “The longer it goes on, the more people tend to say it is no longer proportionate,” says journalist Feldenkirchen.
Eigendorf, who was in the Gaza Strip with the Israeli military, confirms: “It’s unbelievable. In some places there are no houses left that are still habitable.” Then she adds: “Israel is breaking international law. Proportionality is not maintained, despite all the understanding and acceptance that Israel has to defend itself.” Israel does not protect the civilian population and denies people the right to water and food.
Israel is now under massive pressure from the USA, explains Masala. They are interested in ending the war as quickly as possible.
“Ukraine needs new partnerships”
Things are different in Ukraine, the second hotspot of war that has affected many countries this year. One reason for this is a lack of material deliveries, says Masala. There were unexpected successes on Ukraine’s side this year, but fewer than expected. At the moment there is a front and Russia has the initiative again.
The expert expects the next Ukrainian military offensive to take place in the middle or end of next year. Ukraine now primarily needs spare parts, ammunition and artillery systems. It is important that new partnerships are formed. And this is where Masala sees a problem, because: “That’s where Israel’s war against Hamas comes into play.”
Germany, the USA and other countries have campaigned in the states of the so-called Global South to stand by their side in supporting Ukraine. “The attitude in the case of Israel has led to precisely these states gradually distancing themselves again,” says Masala.
Moderator Louis Klamroth won’t reveal what will happen next year with “Hard but Fair”. But someone will be missing: Brigitte Büscher, who always appeared on the show for 23 years to present the audience’s opinions. This year she also went to various cities to interview local people. In the coming year, she wants to take on new tasks, says Büscher herself – and in the end she actually brings a positive atmosphere to the show. She says goodbye with a smile and the words: “All the best, all the best, and we’ll see what happens in 2024.”