(NewsNation) — An Israeli government spokesperson said the country wants “to give the Palestinians all the rights to govern themselves” but also to ensure they do not possess a military that could threaten and attack Israel.
In a Monday interview on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports,” spokesperson David Mencer insisted Hamas militants in Gaza must be stripped of all offensive military capabilities.
His comments came after Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said an Israeli-Saudi normalization pact was “very, very close” if Israel agreed to grant Palestinians an independent state. A Saudi deal would be a landmark in Arab-Israeli relations.
“We will always be in favor of Palestinian self-determination … to run their own affairs but will never be in favor of them having the ability to attack us,” Mencer said.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called a recently proposed truce “an extraordinarily generous” offer and urged Hamas to take it quickly. Egypt has been mediating indirect talks during the latest wave of deadly violence.
Mencer said sustained military pressure is the only way to force Hamas militants to free Israeli hostages and disarm the militants.
“Leaving Hamas anywhere in Gaza means that they will continue to attack us, and that’s one thing which we’re going for: total victory,” he said.
As colleges around the U.S. implored pro-Palestinian student protesters to clear out tent encampments with rising levels of urgency Monday, Mencer dismissed the significance of the demonstrations.
He said such international opposition only “emboldens the terrorists” and makes Hamas less likely to accept cease-fire terms.
Mencer claimed new videos issued by Hamas showing captive Israelis were a result of Israeli military pressure, and Israeli forces were tightening “the noose” around the last remaining Hamas battalions.