Former Israeli PM tells Piers: 'We have an ISIS state on our border, people who will rape, murder, dismember bodies and kill babies'

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told TalkTV's Piers Morgan that Queen Rania of Jordan had “totally lied” about Israel.

On Wednesday, Queen Rania of Jordan accused Western leaders of failing to condemn the deaths of civilians following the Israeli bombardment in Gaza, adding that Israel’s war on Hamas could destabilise US-Arab relations.

Speaking to CNN’s, Queen Rania had said: “The people all around the Middle East, including in Jordan, we are just shocked and disappointed by the world’s reaction to this catastrophe that is unfolding.

"In the last couple of weeks, we have seen a glaring double standard in the world.

“When October 7 happened, the world immediately and unequivocally stood by Israel and its right to defend itself and condemned the attack that happened … but what we’re seeing in the last couple of weeks, we’re seeing silence in the world."

Mr Bennett told Piers: “She totally lied and said reprehensible things. She talked about apartheid; let’s talk about apartheid.

"There’s one and a half million Israeli Arabs, they vote in the elections, they have one ballot like I do… we have Arab Supreme Court judges, they enjoy full equal rights in Israel…So saying Israel is an apartheid state simply has nothing to do with the facts.

"If she wants to bring some facts to substantiate her lies, I challenge her. Bring facts that show me Israel is apartheid."

Mr Bennett referred to claims that Hamas had killed a family by setting their home on fire and insisted Israeli forces had never engaged in such barbarism.

“Shame on Queen Rania. The fact she can say these blatant lies is deplorable.”

On the issue of misinformation, Mr Bennett told Piers: "I wouldn't trust Hamas' statements.

"As we saw just a few days ago, it was Islamic Jihad who shot a rocket at the Gazan hospital. Hamas claimed it was Israel, the whole world echoed that for about 24 hours until it turned out it was a total lie and it indeed was Islamic Jihad.

"So, I wouldn't assign too much weight to their words, especially given that they are a group of rapists and murderers, so why would you trust them."

Reflecting on the causalities of the conflict to date, Piers asked Mr Bennett what number of deaths would become unpalatable for people on the Israeli side.

Mr Bennett responded: "It's not about proportionality to what happened, it's about preventing what will happen. What we've realised is that we have an ISIS state on our border, people who will rape, murder, dismember bodies, kill babies from point blank, so it's not about what happened it's about the future, how do we protect and defend Israel?

"There is only one way - the total eradication of Hamas."