Hamas Steals Aid Meant for Those Who ‘Desperately Need it,’ Ambassador Huckabee Says

Mike Huckabee, the newly confirmed ambassador to Israel, said Monday that pressure should be placed on Hamas, not Israel, to resume humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, saying Hamas has been confiscating the aid packages.

“What I would like to suggest is that we work together on putting the pressure where it really belongs — on Hamas — to give us the opportunity to open up those humanitarian channels,” Huckabee said in a video statement after meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. “We call upon Hamas to sign an agreement so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza to the people who desperately need it,” he said.

“When that happens and hostages are released — which is an urgent matter for all of us — then we hope that humanitarian aid will flow and flow freely, knowing that it will be done without Hamas being able to confiscate and abuse their own people by not allowing those resources to get to the people who desperately need it,” he added

Huckabee, 69, was governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, and is known as a staunch supporter of Israel. Nominated by President Trump, he was confirmed as ambassador by a 53-46 vote in the Senate on April 9.

By DAVID J. GLENN