The U.S. Ambassador: The Final Decision on Gaza Lies with Israel

SadaNews - The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said in an interview on Thursday with the "This Morning" program on the official Israeli radio "Kan - Reshet Bet", that his country does not dictate Israel's decisions regarding the war in Gaza or negotiations with Hamas, emphasizing that the decision rests solely with Tel Aviv.

The U.S. ambassador clarified that it is unwise to directly advise Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his decisions, pointing out the necessity of first ensuring Hamas's seriousness in reaching an agreement.

He added that previous experiences have shown that Hamas often changes the terms of any agreement at the last moment, expressing hope that this situation will not be repeated this time.

He affirmed that the U.S. position is clear: "All hostages must be returned, and Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in power."

The ambassador added that the United States is not in a position to impose decisions on Israel, noting that Tel Aviv will make the decision that is best for the country and the hostages.

He confirmed that this is an extremely difficult decision, which will have both supporters and opponents, clarifying that the current suffering in Gaza is not due to Israel, but rather a result of Hamas's actions.

Regarding the terms of any potential agreement, Huckabee made it clear that he is not in a position to define the details accurately, indicating that the available information is incomplete.

He confirmed that the U.S. position is based on the necessity of Hamas's disappearance, comparing it to the departure of the Nazis from their power centers after World War II.

He added that what happened on October 7 cannot be tolerated, and Hamas cannot be left as is, giving it a sense of victory after its fighters killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others.

When asked about a deadline to end the war, Huckabee said it is not appropriate to set a timeline. He clarified that the more important question is to determine the goal, asserting that if the goal is to prevent a repetition of the events of October 7, no specific timeframe can be set for that.

He added that the world has seen videos of the hostages and everyone should condemn Hamas, noting that some European countries are applying pressure on Israel more than Hamas itself.

Huckabee further stated that the United States puts strong pressure on European countries to prevent them from recognizing a Palestinian state, asserting that Washington does not intend to participate in what he described as a "ridiculous game" that only delays the release of hostages.

He explained that Europe's discussions about unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state have halted negotiations with Hamas, warning that any European recognition will be met with an Israeli declaration of sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, which would undermine all existing agreements and constitutes a violation of the Oslo agreements regarding unilateral actions.

He concluded by saying that this European move may seem beneficial to some, but in reality, it causes significant harm.

When asked about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the U.S. ambassador to Israel confirmed that he is aware of people starving in the territory, noting that he has not heard of any documented reports of mass famine, but he is certain of the suffering of the population.

He explained that the main cause of this hunger is the control of an armed organization, which is taking food and selling it instead of distributing it to those in need. Huckabee also criticized the United Nations, considering its mechanism ineffective to the extent that 92% of the aid is stolen before it reaches those who actually need it.