US Envoy Suggests Deporting Hezbollah and Hamas Members to Iran as Part of Regional Peace Proposal

17/06/2026

US Envoy Suggests Deporting Hezbollah and Hamas Members to Iran as Part of Regional Peace Proposal

WASHINGTON, June 17: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has suggested that members of Hezbollah and Hamas could be deported to Iran as part of a proposal aimed at removing Iranian-backed groups from Lebanon and Gaza.

In a statement shared ahead of a planned US-Iran agreement signing in Switzerland on Friday, Huckabee said Iran was demanding that Israel stop defending its border against Hezbollah, while the Gaza peace plan depends on the disarmament of Hamas.

"Idea: all members of Hezbollah and Hamas should be deported to the ‘mother ship’ in Iran," Huckabee said, adding that such a move would leave Lebanon and Israel free from what he described as Iran’s "terrorist proxies."

"Let’s give peace a chance!" he added.

The proposal comes amid ongoing regional tensions over Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon, Hamas’ future in Gaza, and diplomatic efforts involving Washington and Tehran.

Huckabee’s comments were made as discussions continue over potential agreements and security arrangements involving the United States, Iran and regional actors.