IDF Spox Battles With CNN’s Wolf Blitzer About Gaza Food Line Incident: ‘I Don’t Trust the Hamas Ministry of Health’

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer conducted a contentious interview with an Israeli spokesman about Thursday’s “horrible incident” in which the IDF fired into a crowd of hungry Palestinians at a food distribution site, killing more than 100, and injuring hundreds more.

“This really horrible incident today comes as the Palestinian Health Ministry now says more than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children. So here’s the question: why is Israel not doing more to limit these casualties?” Blitzer asked.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner shot back, “So, let’s correct ourselves just one second there. It’s the Hamas Ministry of Health.” Lerner continued:

I wouldn’t trust the ISIS Ministry of Health. I wouldn’t trust the Al-Qaeda Ministry of Health. I don’t trust the Hamas Ministry of Health. In this war, we have killed now up to now over 12,000 terrorists, Hamas terrorists, Palestinian Islamic jihad terrorists, in combat or in precision strikes.

Indeed, it is a deep tragedy that civilians are caught up in this war. It’s a war Israel never asked for. It was a war Israel was surprised from on the 7th of October when Hamas decided to launch a war against Israel attacking, killing, murdering, massacring, and abducting 240 Israelis and foreign nationals into Gaza. There are still 134 Israelis being held by Hamas.

This war can end today. Hamas can let them go and unconditionally surrender. And, there will be no more need for war. But there is one very, very clear thing that everybody agrees upon. Hamas have to go, the paradigm has to change, for the safety and security for all decent people in this region.

Blitzer next asked about an incident that involved Israel dropping a 2,000-pound bomb, and that the shockwave alone killed members of an entire Palestinian family.

“Is Israel going to continue to use those 2,000 pound bombs?” Blitzer asked.

Lerner answered that Israel uses weapons that are precision guided and based on military need.

“So, of course we will utilize the tools in order to within the realm of laws of armed conflict based on distinction, based on precaution, but also based on military necessity,” Lerner said.

Negotiators have been working on the terms of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas the President Joe Biden said could come within a week.

Watch the clip above via CNN.