U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Newsmax Tuesday that Hamas diverted billions of dollars in international aid to fund an extensive tunnel network instead of improving life in Gaza, saying they "could have built Singapore" but instead "turned it into Haiti."
Speaking on "Carl Higbie FRONTLINE" on set in Israel, Huckabee said the militant group routinely steals humanitarian supplies entering Gaza.
"Eighty-eight percent of the U.N. food going through that process has been stolen or looted," he said. "That's because Hamas steals the food. Then they turn around and sell it. And with the money, that's how they finance their operations. Last year, Hamas made $500 million stealing aid."
Huckabee rejected claims that Israel is starving Gaza's population, saying Israel has sent in "2 million tons of food." While acknowledging that some areas experience deprivation, he blamed it on Hamas.
"The reason there is deprivation, the reason there is hunger is because of Hamas," he said. "And I'll tell you who's really getting starved: the hostages."
On the conflict's end goals, Huckabee said President Donald Trump's stance is clear: "Hamas has no role in the future, and they're not going to govern."
He said that while some European nations have pushed for a two-state solution, the Arab League recently issued a unanimous resolution calling for Hamas to disarm and release all hostages at once.
"It is a crazy time to look at this region, but it certainly comes to the place where the president is dead right when he says, 'Hamas has to go for the same reason that the Nazis had to leave Germany and disband at the end of World War II,'" he said.
Huckabee also criticized past U.S. funding to Gaza, including $2.1 billion that he said was untraceable once routed through nongovernmental organizations.
"That's one of the real scandals ... how many billions of dollars went into Gaza, not just recently, but over the past 20 years since Hamas took power," he said.
"What did they do with those billions of dollars? They could have built Singapore," Huckabee added.
"Instead, they turned it into Haiti. ... They built a tunnel system to hide their terrorist activities. It is a tunnel system 500 miles bigger than the London Underground."
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight’s special series and President Trump’s comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.