Israel and US Ambassador Blast UK Foreign Secretary Over Gaza Aid Claims
Israel's Foreign Ministry and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee rejected UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's claims of blocked medicine in Gaza. Huckabee also visited the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry and United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee launched a sharp counterattack against British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Saturday over his remarks regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Miliband had released a video detailing accounts he received from Gaza, stating:
"What is happening there is horrendous. The stories I was told—of medicines being blocked from entering, of children dying while waiting for vital, life-saving treatment. When you hear such a description of what is happening, you realize that we, as the UK government, must act—and act more decisively than we have up to now."
Israel Rejects Aid Blockade Claims
Israel's Foreign Ministry swiftly responded to Miliband in a post on X, accusing the British diplomat of prioritizing political messaging over ground realities:
"The British Foreign Secretary publishes a video in which he spins 'stories' told to him about Gaza. Had the Foreign Secretary been interested in facts rather than stories, he would know that there are no restrictions on the entry of medicines into the Gaza Strip, and that no medicine is blocked."
To back its stance, the ministry released official medical aid figures:
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22,500 tons of medical equipment have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began.
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Gaza residents regularly exit the strip for medical treatment, including 200 individuals in the last two weeks alone.
The ministry noted that the UK is a member of the International Support Center for Gaza, meaning Miliband is fully aware of these shipments, adding that "apparently, facts are of less importance when producing a video for a political audience."
US Ambassador Backs Israel, Visits West Bank Town
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee backed the Israeli response, criticizing the British government's stance and stating that their positions ignore documented facts.
Earlier on Saturday, the US Embassy announced that Huckabee conducted an unusual visit to the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya in the Ramallah district. Approximately 80% of the town's residents hold US citizenship, and the area has been a frequent flashpoint for settler violence.
Huckabee met with local residents, including families of American citizens killed in clashes, and condemned the actions of radical groups:
"I visited Americans in Turmus Ayya to hear disturbing stories about criminal and terrorist actions by a group of trespassers who brazenly roam the lands of legal landowners. These are shameful acts that do not reflect 99% of Israelis."
