US Ambassador Mike Huckabee Must Implement a Decisive Strategy against Hamas from Day 1

As the father of Itay Chen, a US hostage being held in Gaza by Hamas, the arrival of Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel gave me a renewed sense of hope.

Ambassador Huckabee must implement the decisive policy changes that we, the families of those abducted by Hamas, have been yearning for. In his past roles as the governor of Arkansas and as an evangelical pastor, Huckabee has become known for his unwavering support of Israel and fight against terrorism.

My son Itay, along with four other US citizens – Edan Alexander, Omer Neutra, Gad Hagi, and Judi Weinstein – have been held hostage since October 7, 2023. Negotiations, pressure, and sanctions have so far failed to free these US citizens from captivity.

We should not expect what hasn’t worked time and again to start being fruitful. Incoming Ambassador Huckabee has an opportunity to redefine the US approach to the release of its hostages by implementing a forceful strategy that directly targets the future lifeblood of Hamas. With Huckabee’s proven track record, he can advocate and implement America’s policy of enabling peace and stability through strength in the Middle East.

Huckabee’s new role places him at the nexus of these challenges. His close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will certainly facilitate coordinated efforts to address the hostage crisis.  Ambassador Huckabee is capable of persuading Netanyahu that it is in his best interests to align himself with the greater US strategic goals in the Middle East, which include a comprehensive hostage release deal aimed at establishing regional stability.

If the comprehensive hostage negotiation talks do not succeed soon, it will be time for the United States to reconsider direct negotiations with Hamas, with the sole aim of securing the release of American citizens, my son among them. Such engagement does not imply legitimization of Hamas, but rather, reflects the commitment of the US to getting its citizens home.

Precedents for such communication exist, including the successful negotiations conducted with the Taliban recently to win the release of an American hostage held in Afghanistan. With the right diplomatic framework, Huckabee can further a US policy that prioritizes the immediate and safe return of its hostages without undermining Israeli interests. The coming weeks will reveal whether Huckabee can bring the moral clarity and political courage required to help bring Americans like Itay home — and to ensure such tragedies are never repeated.

The successful implementation of the release of the US hostages will reconfirm an unwavering doctrine: that taking American citizens hostage must never serve as a bargaining chip, and will always carry devastating consequences. Abducting a US citizen anywhere in the world must be a liability, not an asset. This requires a comprehensive policy that includes not only diplomatic pressure, but also targeted sanctions, isolation, and justice for responsible actors, and when necessary, the credible threat of force. Unless the costs of hostage-taking far outweigh any perceived benefits, the practice will continue to plague US foreign policy.

Now, with President Trump, Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, we have a unique opportunity to turn the release of the US hostages into a catalyst for an entirely new era in the Middle East. Successful efforts by the Administration to free its hostages would project US resolve, reassure allies, and help stabilize a volatile region where American leadership is more crucial than ever.

I have faith that President Trump and his leadership team can help build a new Middle East based on an Abraham Accords 2.0, with Saudi Arabia and other Sunni countries joining the peace treaty with Israel. On a personal level, my family prays that by the time the Administration reaches one-hundred days in office, my family will be reunited with our son and become whole again.

—

Ruby is the father of Itay Chen, a 19-year-old Israeli-American held by the Hamas terrorist organization. Ruby and his wife, Hagit, live in Israel with their two other children.