US Ambassador Condemns Palestinian Calls for Terror by Fire

In a fiery rebuke of growing incitement against Israel, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has called out Arabic media and terror groups like Hamas for promoting arson as a tactic of terror. In a statement posted on social media, Huckabee expressed outrage at calls to commit acts of environmental and civilian destruction, saying, “Israelis live every day with constant threats from uncivilized savages like Hamas seeking to murder civilians and destroying even the trees.”

The ambassador was reacting to a surge of disturbing messages across Arabic social media platforms that openly encourage setting fire to Israeli forests, groves, and homes. These aren't isolated sentiments they reflect a calculated strategy to turn Israel’s natural beauty into fuel for hatred.

One particularly chilling message from Hamas on Telegram urged, “Burn whatever you can of groves, forests, and settler homes.” Others echoed similar violence. Jenin News Network incited followers with, “Let us be the flame of freedom which will not die,” encouraging the youth to make “every day a struggle for the resistance.” Another post from “Akhbar Filastin” called for targeting settlers’ homes and lighting Molotov cocktails near grasslands surrounding Israeli towns.

This wave of online incitement coincides with real-world consequences. On Wednesday, multiple fires broke out near Jerusalem amid extreme weather conditions. These led to mass evacuations, road closures, and the painful cancellation of Independence Day torch-lighting ceremonies a national moment of pride and unity for Israelis.

Israeli security forces acted swiftly, arresting three suspects believed to be connected to the fires. Though details remain limited, reports suggest the Shin Bet security agency has taken charge of the investigation, an indication that the fires are suspected to be deliberate acts of terror.

Terror by fire is not a new tactic. For years, incendiary balloons and kites launched from Gaza have scorched Israeli farmland and nature reserves. But what’s deeply troubling today is the blatant and organized nature of the current wave of arson incitement. The goal is clear: to inflict harm, sow fear, and erase Israel’s vitality both human and ecological.

What these provocateurs fail to recognize is that the land they seek to destroy flourishes because of love, care, and hard work. From the reforestation of the Negev to the blooming vineyards of Samaria, Israel’s connection to its land runs deep and sacred. Fire cannot sever this bond. Instead, it fuels Israeli determination to protect what has been miraculously rebuilt.

Let us stand united in the face of these vile calls to violence. The world must reject this normalization of terror, whether aimed at people or trees.

Israel stands tall and will continue to thrive against the odds. Its strength is in its people, its unity, and its unwavering connection to the land of its ancestors. Share this article with friends and subscribe to our newsletter for more updates that matter.