US Envoy Huckabee slams UK over PM Starmer's Gaza takeover criticism
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for opposing "Israel's" Gaza takeover plan.
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US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee speaks to journalists outside a building at Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sabe', occupied Palestine, that was struck by an Iranian missile, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP Photo)
US Ambassador to "Israel" Mike Huckabee has rejected British criticism of "Israel's" plan to take control of the Gaza Strip, defending "Israel's" handling of humanitarian aid and questioning the UK's own contributions.
The exchange comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that "Israel’s" security cabinet had approved a plan to extend control over the entire Gaza Strip to establish a security perimeter before handing authority to a new "civilian administration." Netanyahu insisted that "Israel" does not intend to maintain permanent control of the territory, but critics warn the move amounts to a full military takeover that will displace large numbers of civilians, deepen the humanitarian crisis, and undermine any prospects for a negotiated solution.
Responding on Friday to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's call for "Israel" to halt the planned takeover, Huckabee wrote on X: "How much food has [UK Prime Minister Keir] Starmer and the UK sent to Gaza? Israeli PM [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] has already sent 2 MILLION TONS into Gaza & none of it even getting to hostages. Maybe UK PM ought to sit this one out & follow Arab League who said Hamas should disarm & release ALL hostages immediately."
In a Fox News interview, Huckabee argued it was unreasonable to expect a country under attack to feed its enemy and then face criticism for not doing it "as efficiently." "I want to ask you, can you tell me anywhere in the history of the world where a country that was attacked in war was expected to feed the country that attacked them and gets criticized if they didn't do it as efficiently," he said.
UK, UN Condemnation
Starmer, however, has warned that "Israel's" move to take control of Gaza risks further violence and will worsen the humanitarian crisis. He reiterated his call for a ceasefire, saying the UK and its allies are working on a "long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution." The British leader has also pledged to formally recognize a Palestinian state in September if "Israel" fails to take "substantive steps" toward ending the war.
From Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk joined the criticism, demanding that "Israel" suspend its plan for "a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip," which he said violates an International Court of Justice ruling obliging Israel to end its occupation in line with international law. "It runs contrary to the realisation of the agreed Two-State solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination," Turk stated.
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'Israel' UK Rift
Earlier today, unnamed diplomatic sources told The Times that "Israel" is considering ending its security cooperation with the United Kingdom if London proceeds with recognizing a Palestinian state in September.
"London needs to be careful because Bibi [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] and his ministers have cards they could play too. Israel values its partnership with the UK but recent decisions mean it is coming under pressure and the UK has a lot to lose if Israel’s government decides to take steps in response," one of the sources said.
However, experts told The Times that any decision by "Israel" to end its cooperation with the UK would carry serious consequences for both sides, as the Mossad and its British counterpart have a history of cooperation, including the UK's use of Israeli-made military equipment during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, indicating that the fallout could extend beyond diplomacy into defense and intelligence collaboration.