Jewish settlements in Gaza not part of US-backed peace plan, says Amb. Huckabee

U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, commented on President Trump’s Board of Peace and the situation in the Gaza Strip in an interview on KAN News Radio Thursday morning, clarifying the financial requirements expected of member countries and assessing that Israel is facing a decision on reopening the Rafah crossing.

Addressing reports claiming that any country joining the Peace Council – including Israel – would be required to pay $1 billion towards the reconstruction of Gaza, Huckabee clarified that such reports are misinformed.

However, he noted that “there is a hope that countries that will participate will be a part of investing in the future” of the Strip.

On the question of control over Gaza and the ‘day after,’ Huckabee assessed that Israel may soon have to open the Rafah crossing: “It's my understanding that that may indeed happen very soon. It will be Israel's decision to do it. And it's my understanding that they are in the process of making that decision to open the Rafah crossing,” he said.

Huckabee also commented on the issue of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip – an idea advanced by some cabinet ministers – by playing down expectations.

“I am not familiar that [Jewish settlements are] a part of the Board of Peace plan,” he said. As for a possible pullback from the Yellow Line, he emphasized that Israel would not have to do anything that would jeopardize its security position. “First of all, the International Stabilization Force (the ISF) has to be stood up and trained and prepared,” he said.

שגריר ארה"ב בישראל, מייק האקבי, ל-@gilicohen10 על התערבות אמריקנית במחאות באיראן: "לא חושב שזה נשקל כרגע, כי כולם מצפים לראות מה העם האיראני עושה - המחאות גדלות וזה משמעותי. נקווה שזו תהיה השנה שבה העם האיראני יגיד: 'נמאס לנו'" | הריאיון המלא#מהדורתכאןחדשות עם @TaliMoreno_ pic.twitter.com/DF489xDXRx

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) January 8, 2026

Huckabee came to the defense of the president’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, who has recently faced sharp criticism from Israeli cabinet ministers claiming he is living in a fantasy.

“I think we should give [Kushner] credit for getting us to this point,” Huckabee said. “The Peace Plan and the ceasefire has resulted in now just about 4 full months of none of us who live here having to run to shelters,” he added, noting that the circumstances are not perfect, but that the calmer times are good for the people of Israel.

Regarding Iran, Huckabee was questioned about the postponed planned attack and President Trump’s warnings to wipe out Iran.

He said the postponement likely stems from a desire to evaluate the internal situation in Iran, but he delivered a stern warning to Tehran: “If I were Iran, I would take [Pres. Trump] very seriously,” adding that he demonstrated last summer that he was not afraid to take military action, like he did at Fordow.

On the issue of the composition of the Board of Peace and Israel’s opposition to the involvement of Turkey and Qatar, Huckabee admitted that he understands Netanyahu’s opposition. He stressed that President Trump supports Israel and nothing will change that, suggesting that the involvement of these countries would have to be worked out.