Pay Close Attention to How Palestinian Leader Responds When CNN Host Calls Out Hamas for Rejecting Cease-Fire Deal

Former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath appeared on CNN's "This Hour" on Tuesday, where he completely ignored a question about whether Hamas truly wants peace.

"Sir, the Palestinian Authority proposed a 24-hour cease-fire," CNN host John Berman began. '"Hamas has rejected that. Do you believe that Hamas truly wants peace? And talk to me about the tunnels from Gaza into Israel. What are they for, if not to infiltrate and target civilians?"

Former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath appears on CNN July 29, 2014. (Photo: CNN via the Washington Free Beacon)

After a long pause, Shaath did not respond to the question, instead saying: "Hamas is in fact not the target of the Israeli bombing. The Israeli bombings targeting civilians, is targeting the people of Gaza, and no doubt these civilians need a chance to survive and to live decently. You've just destroyed all the power station in Gaza, hospitals have been destroyed all over the place, and therefore, yes, we want a cease-fire..."

The CNN host noted: "But Hamas just rejected a 24-hour cease-fire."

"Come again?" Shaath said.

The host repeated his statement, and Shaath remarked: "Hamas is saying -- I don't necessarily approve of all that they're saying -- but they're saying that they need an Israeli assurance that they will reciprocate."

You can watch the complete clip courtesy of the Washington Free Beacon, below:

(H/T: Washington Free Beacon)