The violence in Gaza will only come to a halt when Hamas realizes it has no future there, according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. In a detailed interview with Newsmax Middle East correspondent Zach Anders, which aired on Sunday during “Wake Up America Weekend,” Huckabee laid the blame squarely on Hamas for initiating and continuing the bloodshed.
“This was started by Hamas on October 7,” Huckabee said. “They created this nightmare. They perpetuated the nightmare. They’ve kept it going for over 600 days.”
Huckabee emphasized the brutality of Hamas’ actions during the October 7 attack, which included atrocities committed against hostages, among them American citizens.
“They murdered over 1200 people on the day itself, Oct. 7, taking over 250 hostages, including a lot of Americans, and a lot of Americans tend to forget that Americans were taken hostage,” said Huckabee. “Americans were murdered. Their remains are still being held by Hamas. This all comes down to one thing: the absolute uncivilized savagery of Hamas.”
He explained that both the Israeli and American governments have made it clear they are open to a resolution—if Hamas is willing to step aside.
“The one thing that has been consistent, and President [Donald] Trump has never wavered from this, is that Hamas has no future there,” said Huckabee. “They can’t govern. … Put the blame where it is. It isn’t on Israel. It’s with Hamas solely, and they can fix it as soon as they decide that they are willing to take an exile, which Israel is willing to let them do, but they’re not going to let them stay in Gaza.”
Huckabee also addressed the ongoing issue of civilian deaths in Gaza, attributing much of the destruction to Hamas’s deliberate strategy of putting civilians in danger.
“Who announces in advance they’re going to hit a particular area?” he said. “The Israelis do, because they’re trying to keep from civilian casualties in a war. You don’t always have that luxury. So what did Hamas do? They pushed their people right into the very target that Israel had announced. That’s why so many have been a part of the carnage.”
Despite his strong stance on Hamas, Huckabee made it clear that he harbors no animosity toward the Palestinian people and expressed a desire to see them thrive. He also mentioned his intentions to hold meetings with leaders from the Palestinian Authority.
“I don’t hate anybody,” he said. “I want them to succeed. I want their people to have great opportunities. But I have not only already met with some Palestinian leaders, mostly business leaders, but I plan to meet with Palestinian government leaders to talk about whether there are ways forward.”
Huckabee reminded viewers that his role as ambassador was meant to encompass all regions of Israel.
“That includes Judea, Samara, and all parts of it,” he said. “I want to be faithful to that task.”
When asked about French President Emmanuel Macron’s reported plan to propose the establishment of a Palestinian state at the United Nations, Huckabee offered a pointed critique.
“If you want a Palestinian state so badly, why don’t you host it?” Huckabees said. “You’ve got plenty of land. People don’t understand. Israel has less than a tiny fraction. Muslim-controlled countries have 644 times the amount of real estate that Israel has. So when people say, well, carve out some of Israel, what are they asking them to do? Carve out a bit of a tiny piece of property that’s the size of New Jersey?”
{Matzav.com}