Mike Huckabee speaks at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, Oct. 29, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
"The good news is they're not members of my family, which might be the case protesting me sometimes," Huckabee quipped.
Later on, a fourth set of protesters interrupted the hearing, prompting an annoyed Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, to sigh and say, "All right, out!"
Huckabee is set to answer questions from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, alongside Kevin Cabrera, nominee for ambassador to Panama, and Reed Rubinstein, nominee for legal adviser to the Department of State.
Trump nominated Huckabee, a staunch Israel supporter and evangelical Christian who served as governor of Arkansas, to take up the critical post as he works to end the 17-month war in Gaza.
Huckabee has described himself as an "unapologetic, unreformed Zionist."
FINDING GOD IN GAZA: FORMER ISRAELI HOSTAGE FOUND FAITH TO HELP HER SURVIVE HAMAS TERROR
Huckabee, if confirmed, will become the U.S. ambassador to Israel amid a 17-month war on Hamas. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and it is better to bankrupt them than it is to bomb them," he said.
Asked about his previous comments supporting Israel's annexation of the West Bank, Huckabee emphasized that he would be serving at the prerogative of the president.
"I have previously supported it. Yes, sir. But it would not be my prerogative to make that the policy of the president."
He was then asked if he supported Israel annexing Gaza.
"Once again, it would be the prerogative of the president."
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., pressed Huckabee on whether he agreed with Israel withholding food aid to Gaza.
"You don’t believe in collective punishment, do you?" he asked.
"I don't believe in collective punishment. If the Palestinians in Gaza have participated in the holding of hostages and in the torture –" Huckabee said.
Palestinians flee northern Gaza as Israel ramps up bombing campaign to eradicate Hamas. (Reuters/Mahmoud Issa)
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"There are 2 million people there," Van Hollen interrupted. "Finance Minister Smotrich suggested, and I'm quoting, it might be justified and moral to starve 2 million Palestinians in Gaza as part of a strategy to free the hostages. Simple question: Do you disagree with Finance Minister Smotrich?"
"As you know, an ambassador doesn't get to argue with the people of the country," Huckabee said.
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