A bipolar HF instrument comprising: a jaw part, a first instrument branch and a second instrument branch for grasping tissue, which are provided and configured to move away from each other when opening and toward each other when closing, a preferably knob-shaped or button-shaped HF activation element for activating an HF power supply for sealing tissue, preferably a preferably lever-shaped blade actuating element for moving a mechanical blade in the jaw part for cutting tissue, and preferably a latching device for achieving a latched-in state with the instrument branches (3, 4) closed, wherein the HF activation element and preferably the blade actuating element are provided and configured so as to be operable in the same way from two opposite sides of the HF instrument, wherein the HF activation element has an inner part which is mounted in a rocking, sliding or pivotable manner on an axis of rotation of the HF activation element in the second instrument branch orthogonal to the proximal-distal direction, wherein the side of the inner part pointing in the direction proximal to the instrument has a contact element with an activation surface which contacts at least a first HF activation button during actuation of the HF activation element and activates the HF power supply, wherein the inner part of the HF activation element has a first actuating wing or knob and a second actuating wing or knob, wherein the first wing or knob protrudes laterally on the second instrument branch and the second wing or knob protrudes opposite the first wing on the other side of the second instrument branch, characterized in that the contact element is provided and configured with two adjacent cams which extend in the direction of the first HF activation button and receive it between them without contact in the non-actuated state. a jaw part, a first instrument branch and a second instrument branch for grasping tissue, which are provided and configured to move away from each other when opening and toward each other when closing, a preferably knob-shaped or button-shaped HF activation element for activating an HF power supply for sealing tissue, preferably a preferably lever-shaped blade actuating element for moving a mechanical blade in the jaw part for cutting tissue, and preferably a latching device for achieving a latched-in state with the instrument branches (3, 4) closed, wherein the HF activation element and preferably the blade actuating element are provided and configured so as to be operable in the same way from two opposite sides of the HF instrument, wherein the HF activation element has an inner part which is mounted in a rocking, sliding or pivotable manner on an axis of rotation of the HF activation element in the second instrument branch orthogonal to the proximal-distal direction, wherein the side of the inner part pointing in the direction proximal to the instrument has a contact element with an activation surface which contacts at least a first HF activation button during actuation of the HF activation element and activates the HF power supply, wherein the inner part of the HF activation element has a first actuating wing or knob and a second actuating wing or knob, wherein the first wing or knob protrudes laterally on the second instrument branch and the second wing or knob protrudes opposite the first wing on the other side of the second instrument branch, characterized in that the contact element is provided and configured with two adjacent cams which extend in the direction of the first HF activation button and receive it between them without contact in the non-actuated state.