KFAR AZA, Israel — U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee returned to Kfar Aza this week, revisiting the kibbutz where Hamas terrorists slaughtered entire families on October 7, 2023. Standing among the burnt-out homes and children’s toys still scattered in the dirt, Huckabee told i24NEWS that the scene “still reeks of evil.”
“It’s gut-wrenching,” Huckabee said quietly to i24NEWS correspondent Nicole Zedeck. “It’s not a memory I really want to relive. The stench of death was still in the air even weeks later. There were little children put through that horrible tragedy. Parents trying to protect their kids from something unimaginable.”
Now serving as Washington’s top diplomat in Israel, Huckabee said the return visit has deepened his commitment to Israel’s security and his clarity of purpose. “My perspective was solid then, that’s why I was here,” he said. “But now it’s a vivid reminder of what my duty is as ambassador.”
Reflecting on U.S. policy, Huckabee contrasted previous administrations with the current one led by President Donald Trump. “Some U.S. policies before were schizophrenic,” he said. “One day, there was ‘no daylight’ between us and Israel; the next, there were threats to withhold arms Israel needed to defeat Hamas. That was frustrating to watch.”
He credited Trump with restoring “clarity and consistency” to the U.S.–Israel alliance. “No president in history has done more to show the deserved and necessary support for Israel,” Huckabee said. “Critics say Trump is ‘America First.’ Of course he is. But he’s not America Only. Israel isn’t just an ally; it’s a partner.”
Huckabee rejected claims that Israel has been slow to end the Gaza war. “To say they don’t want this to end when their own children are in harm’s way is absurd,” he said. “The question is whether they end it with Hamas still in power. Giving them any semblance of victory would be like letting the Nazis stay in Germany after World War II.”
He accused Hamas of being the sole obstacle to peace, while also criticizing Qatar for sheltering the group’s leadership. “They’ve given these savages hotel rooms in Doha, financed Al Jazeera, and funded the Muslim Brotherhood. They could do more,” he said.
As several European countries announced recognition of a Palestinian state, Huckabee dismissed the move as “reckless symbolism.”
“There was a Palestinian state: Gaza,” he said. “They ruled it, they voted Hamas into power. Instead of recognizing another state, these countries should pressure Hamas to release the hostages.”
The ambassador also questioned the Palestinian Authority’s credibility, citing polling that showed widespread support for the October 7 massacre. “Some even celebrated it,” he said. “I can’t imagine that.”
Addressing criticism of U.S. policy, Huckabee said European opinions hold little sway in Washington. “They might sway gullible people,” he said, “but they’ve had no impact on the president.”
In a message to skeptics abroad, Huckabee invited them to witness Israel firsthand. “If this is an apartheid nation, go to Hadassah Medical Center and tell me who’s Arab or Jewish. You won’t know, they’re working side by side.”
As explosions echoed in the distance, Huckabee paused, gazing at the ruins around him. “Two years ago, this was an ugly place. It still is,” he said. “But I hope two years from now, we’ll walk here again and see children playing, not running to bomb shelters.”
For now, the ambassador said, his mission is unwavering: “Every morning I wake up, check if I still have a job, and if I do, I get dressed and go do it. Representing the United States, the president, and standing up for our partner Israel, that’s a privilege I couldn’t say no to.”
“This is the exact area. I’ll never forget the stench of death that was in the air even weeks later.”
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) October 7, 2025
Standing amid the ruins of Kfar Aza, U.S. Ambassador to Israel @GovMikeHuckabee speaks with @Nicole_Zedeck about the horrors of Oct. 7 and the US, Israel alliance two years on pic.twitter.com/5vJ2vApv6G
Originally reported by i24NEWS