US Ambassador Mike Huckabee gave an interview to Kan today regarding the prospects for ending the war in Gaza.
"It would not be appropriate for me to advise Netanyahu on the course he takes," Huckabee said. "We need to make sure that Hamas is serious about a deal - in every previous deal, Hamas has changed their conditions at the last moment."
Huckabee emphasized that President Trump has made his position clear - all the hostages need to return to Israel, and Hamas cannot remain in Gaza.
"Hamas needs to go the same way the Nazis had to be disengaged from power at the end of WWII. The October 7th massacre is unforgivable, and we cannot allow them to retain any sense of victory after murdering 1200 Israelis."
He said that the USA would not interfere if Israel did accept a partial deal. "We're not going to give Israel a dictate or mandate, because this is an Israeli decision. It wouldn't be appropriate for Israel to tell the USA what to do if there were American hostages. We will let Israel make the best choice for the hostages and for Israel's future. "
Families.of the hostages have called for a referendum on any proposed deal. Huckabee said that such a move could not lose focus on the real issue: "It's a difficult decision, and there will be people who support and oppose any plan. We need to make sure that everyone remembers that the suffering is the result of Hamas, who have acted like uncivilized savages."
The ambassador denounced reports that Steve Witkoff was no longer pushing for all the hostages as 'completely off base', and likewise rejected the premise of a timetable for ending the war. "If the goal was to end the war, we could have done that twenty-twonmonths ago. If the goal is to make sure that there is never another massacre, that there are never any more hostages, that two hundred fifty other families will not go through this, it's inappropriate to put that on a timetable."
"We can see that the hostages are being starved and humiliated. I wish the world would condemn that, but instead, many countries are pressing Israel more than Hamas. I find that unacceptable."
Ambassador Huckabee clarified that America is already working to prevent other countries from recognizing a Palestinian state. "We have no intention of playing along with this ridiculous game that's prolonged the hostages situation. There were negotiations under way, and then the European nations began to speak of a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state and Hamas was giddy with gleee."
The potential consequences of recognizing a Palestinian state would start with Israel. "If Europe insists on recognizing a Palestinian state, Israel will declare sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria. Such a move would also violate the Oslo Accords, which emphasize dialogue and cooperation. Europe may mean well, but they are really moving everything backwards. The USA will not take part in this circus in the UN next month."
Regarding the reports of a famine in Gaza, Ambassador Huckabee stated they were not entirely false - but had been hugely exaggerated. "I'm sure there are people who are hungry and deprived. There's no question about that, but not mass starvation. We need to remember why they are hungry - because the food is taken to Hamas warehouses and not distributed. I don't know why people do not condemn the UN aid services more, when their own numbers show that 92% of it is looted or stolen before it reaches those who need it."