Acute malnutrition and starvation have heightened in Gaza over recent months, according to aid organizations and NBC News’ team within the enclave. They interviewed healthcare workers and families who reported an increasing number of children dying due to insufficient food availability. The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that 361 individuals have succumbed to malnutrition, including 130 children.

Huckabee expressed to NBC News that while hunger exists in Gaza, he believed “there is a substantial error in claiming there is widespread starvation and attributing it to Israel.”

The ambassador, donning a yellow ribbon pin on his suit jacket lapel to show solidarity with the hostages held in Gaza, stated that the hostages were starving, “and I wish there was increased attention directed towards them.”

Israel has also questioned the IPC’s methods and conclusions, labeling them a “lie,” insisting that it was permitting sufficient aid into Gaza, while accusing Hamas of seizing a significant portion of it. The IPC has refuted altering its methodology.

Even though prior U.S. presidents and administrations have reproached the Israeli government, the U.S. has long been a robust supporter of the nation, providing billions of dollars in military assistance. Trump counts among Israel’s most steadfast allies, endorsing Israel’s military actions in Gaza while simultaneously advocating for an end to the conflict. Concurrently, his special envoy Steve Witkoff has spearheaded American initiatives to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

On Aug. 26, Trump said the Israel-Hamas war would reach a “conclusive ending” soon, adding that a big “diplomatic push” was underway.

Despite this, Israel persisted with military operations in the enclave, announcing a fresh offensive in northern Gaza last month, further increasing the death toll, which Palestinian health officials state nears 65,000. Israel initiated its military actions following the Hamas-led terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 fatalities and over 250 hostages. Of the 12 American hostages, two are assumed to remain in Gaza.

“We are connected to Israel through this war, because it was not just Israel that was attacked, Americans were,” Huckabee said.

When asked how he squared Trump’s two-to-three-week timeline to end the war with Israel’s military offensive against Gaza City, Huckabee was vague.

“I don’t have a clear understanding of how it all plays out. I know that the president would have liked for this to have ended 22 months ago, but I am confident that the Israelis would have liked for it to have ended 22 months ago as well,” he told NBC News.

Were there any tensions between the two governments?

“There is not a tension as much as an ongoing mutual frustration that it has been very difficult to get Hamas to come to terms,” he said. “And there is a mutual frustration that the world puts more blame on Israel than it does on Hamas.”

After almost two years of fighting, which has seen much of Gaza destroyed and widespread displacement of the population, Hamas and Israel remain at odds over a deal that would end the war and see the release of the remaining 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.