U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sharply criticized nearly 30 Western countries that on Monday called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. In a post on X, Huckabee accused them of siding with Hamas, writing, “When Hamas thinks you do good work, you are doing evil.”
Huckabee’s remarks came after Hamas praised a joint statement led by the United Kingdom and supported by 25 other nations, which urged an immediate halt to the conflict. “How embarrassing for a nation to side with a terror group like Hamas and blame a country whose civilians were massacred for trying to rescue hostages,” Huckabee added, referring to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attack that triggered the war.
Hamas claimed it welcomed the international call for a ceasefire and renewed allegations that Israel was enforcing a “policy of starvation” in Gaza — accusations that remain unverified. Fox News Digital has not independently confirmed claims that civilians are dying from hunger.
The joint statement, issued by the U.K. Foreign Office and endorsed by top diplomats including Foreign Secretary David Lammy, condemned the deaths of over 800 Palestinian civilians near aid distribution checkpoints. “The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths,” Lammy said.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gidon Saar dismissed the statement, saying Hamas’s approval proves it was a mistake. “If Hamas embraces you – you’re in the wrong place,” Saar posted on X. “Some may have acted with good intentions, but others are simply obsessed with blaming Israel.”
Since May, Israel and the U.S. have introduced a new aid distribution system in Gaza, drawing scrutiny amid reports of deadly chaos near aid centers. Israel denies allegations of deliberately starving civilians, asserting its goal is to prevent Hamas from hijacking humanitarian aid. Officials say the terror group diverts food supplies and sells them at inflated prices to fund its operations.
USAID-backed efforts through the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) have delivered over 85 million meals since May. Israeli officials maintain that soldiers do not intentionally fire on civilians and use warning shots only for crowd control near aid points.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, expressed deep concern over increasing malnutrition reports and condemned the ongoing violence, including shootings near aid convoys.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz weighed in, saying, “Israel has never starved or targeted civilians. On the contrary, we go to extraordinary lengths to protect them.” Gantz held Hamas solely responsible for the suffering in Gaza.
Yet, conflicting claims persist. Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, stated that 21 children have died from malnutrition, with more cases arriving daily. However, Israeli analyst Kobi Michael of the Institute for National Security Studies said there’s no official report confirming starvation deaths. He argued that if aid is inaccessible, it’s because Hamas intercepts it for profit.
“Hamas loots aid for itself and sells it to desperate civilians at high prices,” said Michael, also a fellow at the Misgav Institute.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Israel’s efforts to undermine Hamas’s grip on aid and governance are working. The Washington Post cited Israeli intelligence sources who said Hamas is now facing its worst financial crisis in decades, unable to pay its fighters or maintain its tunnel infrastructure — a key component of its military operations and hostage-holding strategy.
As international pressure mounts and the humanitarian toll in Gaza deepens, the divide between allies of Israel and critics of its military campaign continues to grow — all while Hamas’s influence and resources appear to be eroding.
