Huckabee: ‘No break’ between Trump, Netanyahu on Gaza aid
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee rejected the idea that there’s any “break” between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“That’s about as realistic as saying that I was personally responsible for the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby,” Huckabee said in a Tuesday interview on Fox News’s “America’s Newsroom,” when asked about the “legacy media narrative” about a “break” between the leaders.
“Let me assure you that there is no break between the Prime Minister of Israel and the president. Their relationship I think to be stronger than it’s ever been. And I think the relationship between the U.S. and Israel is as strong as it has ever been,” he continued, pointing to the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear sites last month.
Huckabee blamed the media’s coverage of the humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza, saying some of the viral photos of emaciated Palestinian children have turned out to be from years ago and to be depicting children with cerebral palsy or other diseases unrelated to starvation.
“So no, there’s not a break between them. The disconnect is with the media, who wants there to be an anti-Israel message that they keep getting across, but it’s a false message,” he said.
Huckabee said that while the situation in Gaza is a “mess” right now, it’s not as dire as television coverage often makes it seem. He also criticized the world for blaming Israel for the mass starvation in Gaza, saying Hamas could end the crisis immediately by agreeing to end the war.
“So is there suffering? Yes. Is it as bad as some of the Europeans say it is? No, but it could be a whole lot better. It could all be over quickly, if Hamas would finally decide there’s no future for them there, which is exactly what the president keeps saying,” Huckabee said.
Trump told reporters on Monday that he does “not particularly” agree with Netanyahu’s claim that there is no starvation happening in Gaza, but he has largely stopped short of outright criticizing Israel for its role in preventing aid from getting to Palestinians.
“I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry,” Trump told reporters when asked about Netanyahu’s claim.
The president also said the U.S. would take a more active role in getting food into the region.