Huckabee accuses the US media of colluding with Hamas, claiming there were no casualties at the aid center.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that no Palestinians were killed or injured at the aid distribution center by the Israeli military or American contractors on Saturday, June 1, accusing prominent US media outlets of colluding with Hamas in spreading malicious rumors about the killing of Palestinian civilians.

Huckabee, known for his blind and historical loyalty to the Israeli narrative and goals, said in a statement, a copy of which was received by Jerusalem, that: “The reckless and irresponsible reporting by major American media outlets contributes to the climate of anti-Semitism that led to the murder of two young men at an event at the Israeli embassy in Washington last month, and the attempted murder and terrorist attack on a group of pro-Israel protesters in Colorado on Sunday.”

“Without verification from any source other than Hamas and its agents, the New York Times, CNN, and the Associated Press reported that several people seeking humanitarian food boxes from the Gaza Humanitarian Fund were killed or shot by Israeli Defense Forces,” Huckabee protested. “These reports are false. Drone videos and firsthand accounts clearly show no injuries, deaths, gunfire, or chaos. It is Hamas that continues to terrorize and intimidate those seeking food aid.”

“The sole source of these misleading, exaggerated, and completely fabricated stories came from Hamas sources, whose purpose is to fan the flames of anti-Semitic hatred that allegedly contributes to violence against Jews in the United States,” Huckabee added. “Media outlets that voluntarily repeat these defamatory claims should voluntarily retract their false news, apologize, and pledge to accurately report the facts, rather than engage in dangerous propaganda that helps the terrorist organization Hamas continue to hold innocent hostages for more than 600 days after slaughtering more than 1,200 people on October 7, 2023.”

The Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday (June 1, 2025) that dozens were killed and more than 100 wounded by Israeli fire in the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah, targeting people who were heading to an American food distribution center.

The Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported that Israel launched an attack near an aid distribution point run by the Humanitarian Gaza Foundation (HGF), killing at least 30 people in Rafah.

Civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal told AFP that "at least ten Palestinians were killed and more than 100 others were injured of various ages as a result of Israeli gunfire directed at thousands of citizens who headed to the US aid site west of Rafah at dawn on Sunday," in the far south of the Gaza Strip.

"People started gathering at 4 a.m. to wait in line in the Al-Mawasi area to receive food and humanitarian aid from the American company," a witness told the German Press Agency. "Suddenly, we heard explosions and gunfire, and then people started running in all directions. I saw people falling, covered in blood, and we had no idea where the fire was coming from."

Another witness added, "We tried to flee, but the situation was chaotic. There were children, women, and elderly people screaming. Some of the wounded were taken to hospitals on donkey carts because ambulances were delayed due to the continuous shelling." Witnesses described the scene as "horrific," with screams of pain mixed with the sounds of explosions, further panicking civilians.

Huckabee claims that the GHF, whose origins, funding, and management are unknown, has distributed more than 5 million meals to civilians without incident. He said, "For the New York Times, the Associated Press, and CNN to join a false narrative fueled by Hamas is reprehensible. This is more than just negligent journalism; it fuels and incites violence against innocent people in the United States."

"We demand an immediate retraction of these lies, and we call on all media outlets to be professional and objective in covering real events, rather than being partners to terrorism by blindly following Hamas news releases," concluded Huckabee, who has repeatedly stated that Israel has the right to starve Palestinians.

Reports indicated that the American contractors overseeing the distribution of aid lost control and asked the Israeli occupation forces to "help rescue them," which led to Israeli soldiers opening fire indiscriminately on unarmed civilians.