Huckabee comment on Starmer and Gaza plan

Editorial analysis of Huckabee's WWII remark about Starmer and the fallout from Israel's Gaza City plan.

Huckabee asserts UK would have lost WW2 with Starmer as leader

Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, posted on X a provocative remark directed at UK prime minister Keir Starmer. Huckabee asked, "Ever heard of Dresden, PM Starmer? That was not food you dropped. If you had been PM then UK would be speaking German!" A No 10 spokesperson said they had nothing to add to Starmer's comments. Starmer had earlier stated that the Israeli government’s move to escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong and urged reconsideration, adding that the action will not end the conflict or help secure hostages, and will only bring more bloodshed. In the region, Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to take over Gaza City, marking a controversial escalation of the war in the territory. Netanyahu has signaled an aim to control the whole Gaza Strip, but the approved plan focuses on Gaza City in the north where many Palestinians live. The move has faced opposition inside Israel, including from army leadership and families of hostages being held in Gaza.

The episode shows how social media and high-profile voices now play a direct role in foreign policy discourse. Historical analogies, like Dresden, can draw sudden attention but risk distorting the policy debate and inflaming emotions. The tension between public rhetoric and official policy is sharp here, as Starmer limits the political heat by condemning the escalation while Huckabee’s post raises questions about influence from foreign officials. The broader takeaway is that diplomacy today must navigate a crowded online arena where remarks can travel faster than policy commitments and shape public expectations.

Highlights

Rhetoric meets policy at a moment of high tension in the region