Corbyn refuses FIFTEEN times to call Hamas a terrorist group
'And you wonder why people think you had a problem with Jews,' Piers Morgan concludes after a fiery exchange, during which fellow guest Len McCluskey appears to say 'Do you blame them?' when asked about Hamas' threat to repeat 7 October
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused no fewer than 15 times to call Hamas a terrorist group.
During a fiery on Piers Morgan’s Talk TV show on Monday night alongside ex-trade union chief Len McCluskey, Corbyn said: “I do not approve, support or welcome Hamas.” But he refused over and over again to say they are a terrorist group.
Morgan said it was “very telling” that Corbyn was unable to answer the question of whether Hamas were terrorists, or indeed to say whether they should stay in power in the Gaza Strip. “And you wonder why people think you had a problem with Jewish people,” Morgan concluded.
McCluskey answered “of course” when asked the same question, but then appeared to say, “Do you blame them, do you?” when Morgan raised threats by Hamas to repeat the 7 October massacre in Israel “again and again”.
McCluskey also said “nothing justifies” the atrocity committed by Hamas last month, adding it was “disgraceful”. The former Unite leader then insisted he knew how to remove Hamas from power and also told Morgan he did not believe they should be in control in Gaza.
Earlier McCluskey said: “I’ll tell you how to get rid of Hamas, dead easy. Get the Israeli government to comply with international law, withdraw from the occupied territories, dismantle illegal settlements and build a viable Palestine.”
He added this was the United Nations and the British government’s position.
McCluskey claimed: “It’s not a war between Israel and Hamas, it’s a war between Israel and the Palestinian people. ”
Morgan, asked by McCluskey if he condemned the expansion of settlements by Israel, responded by saying “yes”.
The ex union chief then claimed the best way to get rid of extremism in groups was to “comply with international law”.
He also questioned why the UK government only recognised a state of Israel and not Palestine.
Corbyn refuses to call Hamas terrorists – the full exchange:
Piers Morgan: ‘This country says they [Hamas] are a terror group. Do you agree? And should they stay in power?’
Jeremy Corbyn: ‘Listen, I do not approve, support, or welcome Hamas’
Morgan: ‘Are they a terror group?’
Corbyn: ‘Everybody knows what they are’
Morgan: ‘Are they a terror group?’
Corbyn: ‘Look, Piers…’
Morgan: ‘Can you say it?’
Corbyn: ‘Piers, can we have a discussion…’
Morgan: ‘Can you say it?’
Corbyn: ‘Can we have a discussion…’
Morgan: ‘Can you call them a terror group, Jeremy?’
Corbyn: ‘Can we have a discussion…’
Morgan: ‘Can you call them a terror group?’
Corbyn: ‘Piers. Is it possible to have a rational discussion with you?’
Morgan: ‘Are you prepared to call Hamas a terrorist group?’
Corbyn: ‘Is it possible to have a rational discussion?’
Morgan: ‘You can’t can you?’
Corbyn: ‘Is it possible? Come on, answer that question’
Morgan: ‘You can’t, can you?’
Corbyn: ‘You answer it’
Morgan: ‘No, it’s my show. You answer my question. Are Hamas a terror group?’
Corbyn: ‘Listen… Piers, can I speak?’
Morgan: ‘Answer the question. Are they a terror group?’
Corbyn: …
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