Huckabee: Trump’s Gaza Plan Will Bring ‘Biblical’ Change to the Middle East
Incoming US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, declared that the Trump administration is poised to bring changes of “biblical proportions” to the Middle East, particularly regarding the future of Gaza. Huckabee, a longtime friend of Israel and a former Baptist minister, strongly supported President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove Gaza’s population and allow for its rebuilding without Hamas.
In an interview on Fox News, Huckabee praised Trump’s boldness, stating, “He’s not thinking outside the box. He throws out the box and says let’s start with a blank slate.” Trump suggested that Gaza’s residents be relocated elsewhere, enabling the Strip to be developed into a new area free of terrorism and suffering. He argued that Hamas cannot be allowed to continue ruling over Gaza, as it remains committed to Israel’s destruction.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu initially appeared surprised by Trump’s idea but later endorsed it, calling it “the first good idea that I’ve heard” regarding Gaza’s future. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz has instructed the IDF to prepare a plan that would enable Gazans to leave voluntarily.
However, most Arab nations have strongly opposed the proposal. Countries such as Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have refused to accept Gazan refugees, seeing it as a threat to Palestinian claims over the land. For over 16 months, these nations have rejected any efforts to move the population, even temporarily, and have instead demanded a return to the previous status quo.
Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog, speaking in his own interview on Fox News, called Trump’s idea “the first new idea in years” but stressed that any resolution must be coordinated with Israel’s regional allies. “Both Jordan and Egypt, and the Abraham Accords partners… they are partners that must be listened to, must be discussed with, we have to honor their [feelings] as well, and see how we build a plan that is sustainable for the future,” Herzog said.
Nevertheless, Herzog firmly agreed that Hamas must never again be allowed to control Gaza, as it has only brought destruction upon its own people. He emphasized the need for a real future for both the children of Israel and Gaza, saying, “Only under the leadership of President Trump do we see a new idea come forward.”
The Trump administration is now engaging with key Arab leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Jordan’s King Abdullah, in an effort to advance the plan. Meanwhile, Egypt announced it will host an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to discuss what it called the “new and dangerous developments” following Trump’s proposal. The Palestinian Authority reportedly requested the summit, fearing the implications of such a drastic shift in the region.
This latest development highlights the deep divisions in the Arab world over the future of Gaza. While Hamas has led the territory into war and devastation, its Arab neighbors refuse to absorb its population or take responsibility for its governance. President Trump’s proposal, though controversial, is the first attempt at a dramatic shift in decades. Whether or not it will succeed remains to be seen, but for now, the conversation has changed, and the potential for a new reality in Gaza is on the table.