‘Gaza terrorists so overfed they need Ozempic’ – US defends Israel’s handling of Gaza war

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee defends Israel from accusations of causing famine in the Gaza Strip and pushes back on criticism of targeting of Hamas terrorist who worked as Al Jazeera journalist.

By World Israel News Staff

The American ambassador to Israel this week defended Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza, pushing back on criticism over the killing of a Hamas terrorist who worked as a journalist, and rejecting accusations that Israel has caused a famine in the Gaza Strip.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee spoke with Piers Morgan on Monday, responding to allegations of war crimes related to the targeted killing of Anas al-Sharif and the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on terrorist positions outside the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, killing seven people, including al-Sharif.

Al-Sharif, a member of the Hamas terror organization, also worked as a journalist for Al Jazeera.

While the strike drew international criticism, including from journalists who downplayed evidence presented by the IDF of al-Sharif’s extensive ties to Hamas, Huckabee noted that al-Sharif had been photographed embracing the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, architect of the October 7^th, 2023 invasion.

“There are photos where this alleged journalist is hugging the head of Hamas, and smiling and yucking it up for the cameras.”

“There is evidence that indicates that he was an asset for Hamas. And if it’s proven that he isn’t, then that’s a different calculation. But right now, the evidence points to the fact that he was.”

When Morgan challenged Israel’s claims al-Sharif was a member of Hamas, Huckabee said he considered Israel more credible than Hamas.

“I don’t have the evidence that you seem to think that you have regarding this guy’s innocence. I don’t know. If I have to take the word of the Israelis or Hamas, I’ll be honest, I’m going to lean with the Israelis far quicker than I’m going to lean with Hamas.”

“I don’t think they would just go target a journalist to take him out just because they didn’t like what he was saying. I think that they are a much better country than that.”

“It’s a little disingenuous for us to make the conclusion that this was just an innocent journalist when there’s a lot of evidence to point to the fact that he was not quite so innocent when it comes to his relationship with Hamas, a bloodthirsty cult who could not even get enough of the blood on their hands October the 7th.”

Huckabee also defended the activities of the US-based, Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has served as an alternative mechanism for distributing aid to Gazans, making it more difficult for terror groups to seize incoming goods.

“Why does Hamas hate GHF? One of the things they demanded in one of the negotiations just two and a half weeks ago was that GHF had to be shut down. Why would Hamas want to shut it down?”

“Because GHF’s method of getting food has really hurt their capacity to control the food market and it’s costing them money.”

“Otherwise, they would say, ‘Sure, go ahead and bring the food and all we care about is people getting to eat’. They don’t care about people getting to eat. They care that they eat.”

The GHF has come under fire in recent months, with critics citing claims by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry of violence outside GHF distribution sites, as well as famine-related deaths in Gaza due to alleged shortcomings in the GHF’s relief system.

Israel and the GHF have both disputed Hamas’ claims, blaming the terror group for violence outside aid depots. Israel has also pushed back on Hamas’ allegations of deaths resulting from starvation.

Citing video footage of Hamas terrorists, including a hostage video released by the terror group recently during which the arm of a Hamas terrorist can be seen next to an emaciated Israeli hostage, Huckabee blamed Hamas aid thefts for the current humanitarian situation in Gaza.

“If you look at the people from Hamas, when they get photographed, they are well-fed. None of them are hungry. I guarantee you, look at their faces, look at their bodies. And instead of food, they could use some Ozempic.”