Huckabee: Hamas will be disarmed, but ‘I don’t know who will do it’

The ambassador also confirmed that Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery and military personnel to the United Arab Emirates.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee acknowledged uncertainty over who would ultimately carry out the task of disarming Hamas on Tuesday, but insisted the Iran-backed terror group in Gaza will eventually be stripped of its weaponry.

“It’s a matter of when, and who will do it,” Huckabee said at the Tel Aviv Conference at Tel Aviv University. “Who’s going to do the actual disarming? I don’t know.”

Huckabee said the proposed International Stabilization Force being discussed for Gaza would not be responsible for disarming Hamas militants.

“That is not so much a military force as it is a monitoring-the-border force,” he said.

“Who is actually going to do the disarming? I don’t know. It could end up that the only entity willing to do it is the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

The ambassador also confirmed remarks made a day earlier by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz that Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery and military personnel to the United Arab Emirates during the recent conflict with Iran.

“I’d like to say a word of appreciation for United Arab Emirates, the first Abraham Accord member,” Huckabee said. “Just look at the benefits. Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.”

According to Huckabee, the conflict with Iran has reinforced security ties between Israel and Gulf Arab states that normalized relations under the Abraham Accords.

“The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?” he said.

“They see that Israel helped us and Iran attacked us. Israel is not trying to take over your land and is not sending missiles to you.”