Mike Huckabee: Hamas Has Ignored Every Demand to Disarm

Huckabee: Hamas Hasn't Done Anything to Disarm, 'Trump Brought Them to the Table, and Then They Have Ignored Every Bit'

On Wednesday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “The Story,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that Hamas hasn’t done anything to disarm despite agreeing to do so, and stated that “President Trump brought them to the table, and

ZERO BULLETS, ZERO COMPLIANCE: Huckabee Blasts Hamas for Defying Trump’s Peace Plan and Refusing to Surrender a Single Weapon

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accused Hamas on Wednesday of refusing to surrender a single weapon despite agreeing to disarm under President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative, declaring that the terrorist organization has disregarded its commitments while continuing efforts to attack and kidnap Israelis. Appearing on Fox News Channel’s “The Story,” Huckabee said Hamas was responsible for holding up progress on the American-backed agreement. He argued that Trump had established a viable diplomatic framework through his Board of Peace, but that the terrorist organization had failed to take the steps necessary to implement it. Huckabee said, “[T]he president has put together a very, very solid plan. He’s established the Board of Peace. This could be moving forward. It could be moving forward progressively. But the only reason that there’s any slowdown is because of Hamas. They agreed that they would disarm. You know how many bullets they’ve given up? None. How many bombs? None. How many rifles, pistols? Zero. They’ve given up nothing.” The ambassador’s criticism centered on the complete absence of weapons surrendered by Hamas, despite the organization’s participation in negotiations intended to establish a new security arrangement in Gaza. Huckabee maintained that the group’s continued military activities were undermining the very agreement it had accepted. He continued, “They promised they would. President Trump brought them to the table, and then they have ignored every bit of it. And they continue to fight and try to kill and kidnap Israelis, even while they’re cornered in Gaza. It’s the part of the story that I hope people will fully begin to understand.” The remarks come as the Trump administration confronts obstacles in implementing the next phase of its Gaza peace plan, nearly one year after the October 2025 ceasefire. Although the initial agreement secured the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and increased the flow of humanitarian assistance, its provisions concerning Hamas’s disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawals and the establishment of a new governing authority remain unresolved. On July 30, Trump announced that his Board of Peace had reached what he described as an agreement providing for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza. The announcement followed negotiations involving American officials and regional mediators seeking to resolve disagreements that had prevented the ceasefire from advancing into its next stage. Under the proposed arrangement, Hamas would surrender its weapons through a phased process coordinated with Israeli military withdrawals. An international verification mechanism would supervise disarmament, while an International Stabilization Force and a newly trained Palestinian police force would eventually assume responsibility for maintaining security. The agreement envisioned the transfer of Gaza’s civilian administration to a Palestinian technocratic body operating under international supervision. The new authority would replace Hamas’s governing structure, while the Board of Peace would oversee the broader transition and reconstruction effort. However, disagreements over the sequence of implementation quickly emerged. Hamas representatives insisted that their obligations were tied to Israeli military withdrawals and other provisions of the agreement. Israeli officials expressed skepticism that Hamas would genuinely surrender its arsenal and maintained that Israeli forces could not withdraw without credible guarantees that the organization would be prevented from rebuilding its military capabilities. The dispute has persisted despite further diplomatic efforts. Hamas has indicated a willingness to place its weapons under the authority of a proposed Palestinian administration, but has resisted demands for unconditional disarmament. Israel has argued that such proposals do not adequately guarantee the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military infrastructure. Nearly one year after the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israeli forces remain deployed across substantial portions of Gaza. Hamas continues to maintain an armed presence in areas outside Israeli military positions, and the international security force intended to facilitate a transition has yet to become fully operational. The International Stabilization Force, a central element of Trump’s plan, is intended to assist in maintaining security and training Palestinian police officers. However, the practical challenges of establishing the force and determining its responsibilities have complicated efforts to implement the agreement. The absence of a fully functioning international force has complicated plans for Israeli withdrawals. Without an effective alternative security structure, Israeli officials have expressed concerns that relinquishing military positions could allow Hamas to reestablish control over additional territory and rebuild its operational capabilities. The unresolved security questions have also delayed plans to reconstruct Gaza, where extensive destruction has left enormous housing and infrastructure needs. International assessments have estimated that rebuilding the territory could require tens of billions of dollars over the coming years. The Trump administration’s broader framework links reconstruction to the establishment of a new governing authority and security arrangements intended to prevent armed groups from regaining control. The continuing disagreements over disarmament have complicated those efforts and left significant questions about how reconstruction would be administered. The stalled process has also affected humanitarian conditions. Although aid deliveries increased following the ceasefire, relief organizations have continued warning that Gaza’s population faces serious shortages and extensive infrastructure damage. Israeli authorities have disputed some assessments of aid availability and have maintained that substantial quantities of supplies have been permitted into the territory. Meanwhile, violence has continued despite the ceasefire. Israeli forces have carried out operations against targets they identify as Hamas operatives and military infrastructure, accusing the organization of attempting to conduct attacks and rebuild its capabilities. Hamas has disputed Israeli allegations and accused Israel of violating the agreement. The ambassador’s comments reflect concerns within Israel and the Trump administration about whether a disarmament agreement can succeed without a mechanism capable of ensuring compliance. The central dispute remains whether Hamas will surrender its weapons before Israeli troops withdraw or whether both processes must advance simultaneously. Huckabee has defended Israel’s right to respond to security threats while the agreement remains unimplemented, arguing that Israel cannot be expected to abandon defensive measures while Hamas retains the weapons and infrastructure used to attack Israeli civilians. Wednesday’s comments came on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, when terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdered approximately 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages into Gaza. The anniversary was marked with memorial ceremonies and commemorations honoring the victims. The anniversary also renewed attention to the security demands underlying Israel’s insistence that Hamas must be disarmed. Israeli leaders have repeatedly maintained that any lasting settlement must prevent the organization from carrying out another attack resembling the October 7 massacre.

Mike Huckabee: Hamas Has Ignored Every Demand to Disarm

NewsFinale NewsFinale Journal Speaking Wednesday on Fox News Channel’s “The Story,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Hamas has taken no steps toward disarmament despite agreeing to do so. He argued that the group continues fighting and attempting to kill and kidnap Israelis while being “cornered in Gaza,” after President Trump brought Hamas to the negotiating table. […]