"The reason there is deprivation, the reason there is hunger is because of Hamas," said the U.S. ambassador.
United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee again on Tuesday rejected the charge that Israel is starving Gaza’s population, pointing the finger squarely at Hamas stealing and squandering billions in aid.
“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,” the diplomat said on the Newsmax program “Carl Higbie Frontline,” which aired the interview from Jerusalem.
The 69-year-old former Republican governor of Arkansas, who took the Israel post on April 21, dismissed allegations that Israel is starving the population in Gaza, noting that the Jewish state has delivered “2 million tons of food” to the Strip. While there is deprivation in Gaza, it is the fault of Hamas, he added.