Speaking on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” broadcast Thursday, Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) said there can be no ceasefire and the Palestinian people have no future as long as Hamas’ military wing exists.
Berra said Hamas “is not one entity. The political wing of Hamas, with whom we are negotiating, I believe will accept a ceasefire. And then there is the military wing of Hamas, led by Sinwar, which is not willing to accept a ceasefire. So there will be no ceasefire unless the military agrees to it. In the long term, you either have constant war in the Middle East or you have an autonomous Palestinian state. You have to find new leadership to lead the Palestinian people, probably a modernized Palestinian Authority. But again, none of this is easy. That’s why we continue to work around the clock with Arab countries to achieve a ceasefire, to release the hostages and to avert a humanitarian crisis.”
He later added:[T]”As long as Hamas is in power and the military wing of Hamas exists, the Palestinian people have no future. … I don’t think that the military wing of Hamas will surrender. So Israel has no choice but to go after the military wing of Hamas.”
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