‘They Have to Be a Part of It?!’ CNN’s Scott Jennings Throws Down with Bill de Blasio Over Hamas Role in Peace Talks

CNN’s Scott Jennings shouted over former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday night after the latter said a peace agreement in Israel must include representatives from Hamas.

The pair were part of a panel on The Source with host Kaitlan Collins who asked her guests to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris and her ongoing search for a running mate.

Harris all but locked up the Democratic Party’s nomination for president Friday and Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is reportedly at or near the top of her list to be her running mate.

Shapiro, who is Jewish, could potentially turn off some progressive voters who have described Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza as a genocide. While discussing the potential positives and negatives of adding Shapiro to the Harris ticket, de Blasio said he remained concerned about the ongoing violence in the Middle East, sparking a series of rebuttals from Jennings.

A transcript from the discussion reads as follows:

DE BLASIO: I don’t think it’s about whether the vice presidential candidate is of a certain faith. I think it’s about what are we going to do with that situation Middle East. What I’ve seen from Kamala Harris, and I really appreciate it is, she’s reaffirmed his support for Israel, but she’s also said very overtly, we have to end the suffering of the Palestinian people. And I think she’s drawn a clear line about the fact that the United States is going to really say to Israel, “Come on we’ve got to do better than this. This is not the way for this war to go. Let’s find a way to wrap this up and get the hostages home.” Obviously, Hamas has to be a part of that too. But I think she’s sending a message to folks who have genuine concern.

JENNINGS: Why!? Hold on! You said Hamas has to be a part of this? They are the terrorists who did the kidnapping, the murdering, and the raping, and you’re saying they have to be a part of it?!

[CROSSTALK]

DE BLASIO: Scott, Scott, Scott. Come on, brother.

JENNINGS: That’s ridiculous.

DE BLASIO: I think Hamas is disgusting. I think what they did was a horrible act of terrorism. I’m saying a negotiation that frees the hostages obviously involves them as well. But my point more fundamentally is, I don’t buy – I respect Scott – but I don’t buy the notion that if she chooses a Jewish VP, that that’s going to have this massive alienating effect. I don’t buy that. The vast majority of people who are ready to vote for Kamala Harris believe in Israel, of course, would like to see peace. And I think she’s striking the right tone.

Watch above via CNN.