Following meeting with American-Israeli hostage families, US Ambassador Huckabee blasts Hamas for using civilians as human shields

Newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met on Tuesday with families of hostages with dual American-Israeli citizenship. Following the meeting, Huckabee condemned Hamas for holding 59 hostages in captivity in the Gaza Strip for over 18 months, noting that 24 are still believed to be alive.

On Thursday he posted a video message on 𝕏 to share his thoughts from the meeting, and took the opportunity to criticize Hamas.

“I had the opportunity to sit down with a number of hostage families, all of whom are related to Americans still held in Gaza,” Huckabee stated in the video message. “We want them home now. And the only reason they are not already home is because of Hamas.”

The U.S. envoy also contrasted Israel’s extensive efforts to protect its civilians with what he described as Hamas’ systematic use of Gazan civilians as human shields. Huckabee highlighted Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system as a tool used to safeguard its population, in stark contrast to Hamas, which he said employs a “Flesh Dome” by placing civilians in harm’s way.

“They (Hamas) put their people in front of the military targets rather than protecting their people,” Huckabee stated, referring to Hamas’ strategy to systematically embed its military assets and operatives in civilian structures like hospitals, schools and mosques. “They put their people in the most vulnerable positions.”

I had the opportunity to sit down with a number of hostage families, all of whom are related to Americans still held in Gaza. We want them home now. And the only reason they are not already home is because of Hamas. pic.twitter.com/xfhN1EddRU

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) April 24, 2025

“That’s why we need to get our hostages home,” he continued. “They don’t care about the individuals and that is the reason this war needs to end. But first and foremost, before Hamas is obliterated, we pray that the hostages come home now,” he concluded.

Huckabee is a longtime friend of Israel and has visited the Jewish state more than 100 times during his long political career.

He recently made history by becoming the first American ambassador from the Evangelical community to represent Washington in the State of Israel.

ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel Rosenberg reflected on the new ambassador’s unique ties with the Jewish state in an interview with ALL ISRAEL NEWS Senior Correspondent Tal Heinrich.

“Mike Huckabee is the first devoutly, openly, unashamedly Evangelical Christian ever to be appointed by an American president to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the world's only Jewish state. This is a big deal,” Rosenberg assessed.

“Most of the U.S. ambassadors to Israel over the last quarter century or so have been Jewish,” he said, explaining why this is such a dramatic moment for the Christian Evangelicals,” he continued.

Following his presidential election victory in November, U.S. President Donald Trump quickly appointed Huckabee as the next U.S. envoy to Israel.

“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East!” Trump stated.

However, left-wing forces attempted to block Huckabee’s confirmation in Congress.

“We saw a lot of religious bigotry. A lot of attacks on Mike's Christian faith, Evangelical Christian faith. And that was very painful,” Rosenberg recalled. He predicted that Huckabee could potential become the most effective U.S. envoy to Jerusalem in the history of the modern State of Israel.