Story Highlight
– US ambassador criticizes Starmer’s response to Israel’s actions.
– Huckabee claims UK would have lost WWII under Starmer.
– Starmer condemned Israel’s plans as “wrong” and harmful.
– Israel plans Gaza City takeover approved by security cabinet.
– Over 61,000 people have died in Gaza conflict.
Full Story
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has suggested that the UK would not have triumphed in World War Two if Sir Keir Starmer had been leading the nation at that time. Huckabee’s comments were provoked by Starmer’s recent criticism of Israel’s plans to take over Gaza City.
In a post shared on social media, Huckabee challenged Starmer’s stance on Israel by referencing the UK’s historical refusal to capitulate to Nazi Germany. He remarked, “So Israel is expected to surrender to Hamas & feed them even though Israeli hostages are being starved?” He further questioned, “Did UK surrender to Nazis and drop food to them? … If you had been PM then UK would be speaking German!”
Starmer had previously condemned the Israeli government’s decision to escalate its military offensive in Gaza, calling it “wrong,” and urged for an immediate reconsideration of their actions to avoid further bloodshed. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office declined to offer additional commentary on Starmer’s statement.
Huckabee referenced the bombing of Dresden during World War Two in his criticism, aiming to highlight the consequences of military actions. The British and American forces had dropped extensive bombs on the city, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
In light of the increasing military tensions, the Israeli security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has approved a controversial plan to take control of Gaza City, a move met with opposition both domestically and internationally. Members of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the families of hostages held by Hamas have expressed strong disapproval of the plan.
Internationally, the United Nations’ human rights chief, Volker Türk, voiced concerns that the escalation could lead to more displacement and suffering. Additionally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany would halt the export of arms to Israel that may be deployed in Gaza, critiquing Israel’s military objectives as increasingly hard to comprehend.
Despite the criticism from various quarters, the US administration has not publicly opposed Israel’s strategy. President Donald Trump contended that the decision to occupy Gaza rests primarily with Israel. Meanwhile, US Vice-President JD Vance, during a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, was reticent to disclose whether the US was informed about Israel’s plans for Gaza City, reiterating the intention to address Hamas attacks and humanitarian issues in the region.
The Israeli government has articulated five essential principles aimed at concluding the conflict, which include disarming Hamas, securing the return of all Israeli hostages, and establishing a civilian administration that does not involve Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. Tragically, over 61,000 individuals have reportedly lost their lives in Gaza since October 7, when Hamas orchestrated a deadly assault on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Currently, around 50 hostages remain in captivity, with 20 believed to be alive.
