Huckabee says pressure should be placed on Hamas, not Israel, to restore Gaza aid

After a senior World Health Organization urged him to pressure Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responds that the pressure should be directed at Hamas to sign onto a hostage deal that would include the resumption of assistance into the Strip.

Israel has closed Gaza to aid since the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal on March 1, saying Hamas has been diverting it from civilians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to enter the second phase of the deal, which envisions the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, arguing that it would leave Hamas in power. Backed by the US, the Israeli premier has instead sought to advance another interim ceasefire deal that would see the release of additional hostages while allowing Israel to subsequently resume fighting against Hamas. The terror group has refused such offers to date, leading to the resumption of intensive IDF operations throughout Gaza and an ongoing impasse in hostage talks.

“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 says in a video statement.

“We call upon Hamas to sign an agreement so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza to the people who desperately need it,” the US envoy continues.

“When that happens and hostages are released — which is an urgent matter for all of us — then we hope that 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 adds.

A @WHO official called upon me to put pressure on Israel to bring more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. How about we put the pressure where it really belongs – on Hamas. pic.twitter.com/5AAv5Q63DD

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) April 21, 2025