Reporter Pushes Bernie Sanders on Israel Criticism: ‘Why Don’t I Hear You Say, Hamas…Surrender Now?’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) offered a call for Hamas to surrender after a reporter pressed him on what he described as confusing ceasefire talk from the left.

Sanders has been a vocal critic of Israel’s government and tactics in their war against Hamas and he’s made repeated calls for the United States to withdraw support. On Thursday, CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil argued that the calls for a ceasefire mostly keep the focus off of Hamas, which first attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,000 civilians and kidnapping hundreds of others.

“What I don’t understand when I hear you talk about this issue and your colleagues, your allies on the left, is why I don’t hear you say, Hamas, very simple, surrender now, release the hostages, war over, aid rushes in,” Dokoupil told Sanders.

“Of course I’d love to see that!” the Vermont senator replied.

“So why don’t you call for it?” Dokoupil asked.

Sanders then called for Hamas to surrender, arguing such a call won’t make much of a difference.

“Good! Hamas, surrender right now. I’m sure that the guy at —” Sanders began.

“Free the hostages,” Dokoupil offered.

“Of course free the hostages! I’m sure the guy —” Sanders continued before the reporter jumped in again.

“Stop hosting terrorist leaders —” Dokoupil said before Sanders shut down the conversation and jumped back in. The senator called Hamas a terrorist organization, but admitted his vision of a ceasefire would likely see them remain in power, at least temporarily.

Sanders blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of declaring war on Palestinian civilians. There have been more than 30,000 casualties from Israel’s strikes on Gaza, according to the region’s health ministry, though that exact number has not been independently verified by U.S. officials. Netanyahu has said he will not stop until Hamas is eliminated.

“Look, look, Tony,” Sanders said on Thursday. “Hamas is a disgusting terrorist organization that began this war. Period. Our goal eventually — I do not think there’s going to be a long term peace settlement with Hamas in power. That’s why we need a new generation of Palestinian leadership. But Netanyahu and his right-wing extremists have really been at war with against the women and children of Palestine as well.”

Watch above via CBS.