Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R) believes that the US should prioritize rescuing the remaining hostages held by Hamas over pressuring Israel to agree to a cease-fire, stating that it is a war.
Huckabee joined NewsNation on Tuesday morning to discuss his frequent visits to Israel and his criticism of President Biden for the increasing tensions between the two countries due to the hostage situation involving citizens of both nations.
Huckabee compared the situation to canceling D-Day and emphasized the seriousness of the conflict, noting the brutality of Hamas' actions and the ongoing hostage situation.
Biden spoke with Netanyahu Monday, marking the first time they have spoken since Biden's criticism of the prime minister, followed by a speech from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for new elections in Israel.
Since the invasion by Hamas on Oct. 7, with over 1,200 deaths and 200 hostages, Israel has responded with a deadly counteroffensive, resulting in over 31,000 Palestinian deaths, mainly women and children, as reported by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
During their conversation, Biden expressed ongoing support for Israel in defeating Hamas, while also urging a coherent and sustainable approach, according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Huckabee questioned why the Biden administration is not prioritizing the rescue of US citizen hostages and criticized Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for suggesting that Israel should provide for the hostages.
Huckabee also questioned why other countries involved in supporting Hamas are not being asked to share the burden of helping the hostages, instead of placing pressure on Israel. He specifically mentioned Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, as well as Iran.
“We oughtta be giving them grief. This is an insanity played out on our stages and I’m just stunned that the U.S. government thinks that what the U.S. government thinks we oughtta do is pressure Israel. We’re pressuring the wrong side here,” Huckabee continued.
Biden and Netanyahu’s conversation included a lengthy discussion about Israel’s plans to invade Rafah, a city in Gaza near Egypt, which houses millions of refugees from other war-torn areas of the enclave. The US has advised against such an operation, and Israel has agreed to send officials to Washington, D.C. to discuss potential alternatives.
Huckabee argued that Biden is not considering principles but politics in his response to potential Israeli military actions.
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