U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has issued a statement condemning certain U.S. media outlets for their coverage of events in Gaza. The ambassador accused major news organizations, including the New York Times, CNN, and Associated Press, of contributing to an antisemitic climate through what he described as "reckless and irresponsible reporting."
Huckabee's criticism follows reports from these outlets alleging that individuals seeking humanitarian aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Fund were harmed by the Israeli Defense Forces. He stated that these claims were unverified and based solely on information from Hamas and its affiliates.
According to Huckabee, evidence such as drone footage and eyewitness accounts refutes the reported incidents of violence. He asserted that no injuries or fatalities occurred and attributed the dissemination of false stories to Hamas's influence. Huckabee argued that such reporting exacerbates antisemitic sentiments leading to violence against Jews in the United States.
"The only source for these misleading, exaggerated, and utterly fabricated stories came from Hamas sources," Huckabee said. He urged media organizations involved to retract their reports, apologize, and commit to factual journalism rather than "engaging in dangerous propaganda."
The ambassador highlighted the work of the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), noting it has provided over 5 million meals without incident. He criticized the media for perpetuating what he called a "Hamas-fed false narrative" which could incite further violence.
"We are demanding an immediate retraction of the lies," Huckabee stated, appealing for objective professionalism in media coverage.