In an INSS interview, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Washington’s objectives in Gaza remain aligned with Israel’s, emphasizing that Hamas cannot retain power or weapons if reconstruction is to move forward. Referencing President Donald Trump’s peace framework, he argued that rebuilding is incompatible with Hamas’ continued control. “If you don’t get rid of Hamas, then how are you going to rebuild?” he asked, adding that delays only give the terror group time to regroup.
He said President Trump has been clear that Hamas “will have no future in Gaza” and must disarm and release all hostages, warning that hesitation strengthens the organization rather than weakening it.
Speaking separately about Israel’s northern arena, Huckabee said he believes an arrangement with Syria is achievable, though he avoided offering specifics. He said Damascus understands that long-term stability depends on peaceful relations with Israel and borders that prevent future attacks.
On Lebanon, the ambassador acknowledged that the Lebanese Armed Forces currently lack the strength to confront Hezbollah on their own. He said Israel cannot step back while Hezbollah continues to receive Iranian backing, but expressed hope that responsibility can gradually shift as Lebanese state institutions become stronger.
Turning to military cooperation, Huckabee reiterated that the United States remains committed by law to preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge. He said Washington hopes to make early progress on renewing the next 10-year Memorandum of Understanding and highlighted the mutual benefits of defense cooperation, noting Israel’s operational use of advanced American systems.
In a broader discussion with the Institute for National Security Studies, Huckabee said Iran continues to pose a central national security challenge, stressing that President Trump has left no ambiguity about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Asked about potential Israeli military action if Iran crosses nuclear or ballistic missile thresholds, he said such decisions rest with the White House, but pointed to the president’s repeated public stance. “He consistently has said Iran is never going to enrich uranium and they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” Huckabee said, noting that the position has not shifted since the recent conflict.
Huckabee warned that Iran’s efforts to rebuild its nuclear infrastructure threaten far more than Israel or the United States. He suggested Tehran may only recently have begun to take US warnings seriously. “Iran, I don’t know that they ever took him seriously until the night that the B-2 bombers went to Fordow,” he said. “I hope they got the message, but apparently they didn’t get the full message because … they appear to be trying to reconstitute and find a new way to dig the hole deeper, secure it more.”
He said the danger extends well beyond the Middle East. “This presents a real threat to all of Europe,” Huckabee said, arguing that failing to recognize that reality reflects a profound misunderstanding. He added that Iran has openly threatened Israel and the United States for decades, describing Israel as “the appetizer,” while its ultimate target remains America.
The ambassador also addressed the surge in antisemitism worldwide, pointing to attacks on Jewish communities and growing concerns inside the United States. He cited President Trump’s decision to appoint a special envoy to combat antisemitism as a signal of priorities. “It shows to some degree how much President Trump is trying to make this a priority,” Huckabee said.
Referring to anti-Israel chants heard on college campuses, Huckabee warned that many demonstrators do not grasp the meaning of the slogans they repeat. He said calls of “from the river to the sea” amount to advocating Israel’s destruction, including Judea and Samaria and the rest of the country.
Addressing the erosion of bipartisan support for Israel, Huckabee voiced concern about generational shifts, particularly among younger Americans. He attributed much of the change to social media, which he described as a major source of misinformation. “We have not downloaded the proper data, the correct, the true data into the minds of younger people,” he said.
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