Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lobbied the US lawmakers on a visit to Israel to pursue anti-Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) legislation, as Israel's leaders increasingly warn the country is becoming isolated on the global stage. The delegation was the largest in the history of Israel, according to reports. Americans took to social media to denounce the trip, with users saying America is "occupied". "This is what's now being pushed across America," one social media user posted, alluding to the title of the conference, "50 States, One Israel". "Total occupation." During his remarks, Huckabee, a prominent figure in the pro-Israel evangelical Christian movement who denied the existence of the Palestinian people, also denied that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza where more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. “If Israel is genocidal, they are really, really bad at it,” Huckabee told attendees. “All of Gaza is the size of Las Vegas. If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they could have done it in three hours on the 8th of October, 2023, and it would have been over.” A number of international and Israeli human rights organisations, independent UN experts, and scholars have also labeled Israel’s war in Gaza genocide against Palestinians. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is meanwhile hearing a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israeli forces of genocide. Last week, a United Nations inquiry also concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, in a landmark finding following nearly two years of bombardment, mass killings, forced displacement, aid blockade, and starvation.US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee: "It may sound a little bit this afternoon as if I'm almost speaking on behalf of Israel rather than the US..."
— Chris Menahan ?? (@infolibnews) September 22, 2025
No worries, Mike, it sounds that way every time you speak! pic.twitter.com/NQFdf6RwP1