Mike Huckabee Sparks Controversy with World War II Analogy in Critique of UK's Stance on Israel

Key Takeaways

Mike Huckabee drew criticism for comparing the UK's stance on Israel to Britain's World War II decisions, suggesting the UK would have 'lost WWII' if Keir Starmer were in charge.
Keir Starmer condemned Israel's military plans to seize Gaza City, calling them 'wrong' and warning of increased bloodshed and jeopardized hostage releases.
Israel's military operation in Gaza has faced opposition from within Israel, including military leaders and hostage families, as well as international entities like the UN and Germany.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 61,000 deaths since October 2023, with Hamas's cross-border attack killing 1,200 Israelis and capturing 251 hostages, 50 of whom remain captive.
Israel's stated objectives for ending the war include disarming Hamas, returning hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, ensuring Israeli security control, and establishing a new civilian administration.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has drawn sharp criticism for a social media post comparing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership to Britain's World War II-era decisions, claiming the UK would have "lost WWII" if Starmer were in charge. The remarks followed Starmer's condemnation of Israel's military plans to seize Gaza City, which he labeled "wrong" and urged an immediate reversal.

In a now-viral X (formerly Twitter) post, Huckabee wrote: "So Israel is expected to surrender to Hamas & feed them even though Israeli hostages are being starved? Did UK surrender to Nazis and drop food to them? ... If you had been PM then UK would be speaking German!" He further referenced the 1945 Allied bombing of Dresden, stating, "That wasn’t food you dropped. If you had been PM then UK would be speaking German!"

Starmer’s earlier statement criticized Israel's escalation in Gaza, warning it would "only bring more bloodshed" and jeopardize efforts to secure hostage releases. His comments came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved a contentious plan to take full control of Gaza City, where over 500,000 Palestinians reside. The move has faced opposition from Israeli military leaders, hostage families, and global entities like the UN, where human rights chief Volker Türr warned of "massive forced displacement" and increased civilian suffering.

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Israel’s strategy, halting arms exports to the country pending review. Merz stated Israel’s approach made it "increasingly difficult to understand" how military objectives would be achieved. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump reaffirmed US support for Israel’s autonomy in decision-making, saying the occupation of Gaza was "pretty much up to Israel."

During a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, US Vice-President JD Vance declined to confirm whether the US had prior knowledge of Israel’s plans. He emphasized Trump’s focus on stopping Hamas attacks and addressing humanitarian challenges in Gaza, but avoided direct criticism of the offensive.

Israeli leaders have outlined five objectives for ending the war: disarmament of Hamas, return of all hostages, demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli security control over the enclave, and establishing a new civilian administration. However, the conflict has already claimed over 61,000 lives in Gaza since Israel’s military operation began in October 2023, retaliating for Hamas’ deadly cross-border attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Fifty hostages remain captive, with 20 believed alive.

Hostage families and human rights advocates warn that escalating operations in Gaza City will worsen civilian casualties and hinder rescue efforts. Huckabee’s remarks, meanwhile, have intensified scrutiny over diplomatic rhetoric and historical analogies in modern conflict contexts.