American journalist Tucker Carlson

American journalist Tucker Carlson has said he and members of his team were detained at the Ben Gurion airport in the occupied territories following an interview with the United States ambassador to the territories, Mike Huckabee.

Carlson, a former Fox News host, had traveled to Tel Aviv for a sit-down with Huckabee after a public disagreement over the Israeli regime`s treatment of Christians, The Daily Mail reported.

Huckabee, who previously worked with Carlson at Fox News and has known him for more than three decades, had invited him for a discussion.

Passport confiscated, colleague questioned

Carlson told the paper that shortly after the interview, Israeli officials confiscated his passport and questioned a member of his staff.

"Men who identified themselves as airport security took our passports, hauled our executive producer into a side room and then demanded to know what we spoke to ambassador Huckabee about," he said.

"It was bizarre," he exclaimed.

The interview followed Carlson`s criticism of Huckabee on his YouTube show, where he rapped the ambassador for not ensuring proper protections for Christians in the occupied territories.

Huckabee responded on X by inviting Carlson to meet in person. "Instead of talking about me, why don`t you come talk to me?" Huckabee wrote.

Carlson welcomed the invitation and said they were working to arrange the interview.

Carlson, whose digital platform reaches millions, has become one of the most high-profile right-wing voices openly criticizing the Israeli regime`s role in US politics since Tel Aviv launched its Washington-backed genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.

He has consistently maintained that Washington has been complicit in the war and has challenged the degree of sway held by pro-Israeli lobbying groups.

In particular, Carlson has pointed to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), calling its clout "an ongoing humiliation ritual" for American lawmakers and the nation.

He has further condemned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for publicly touting his influence over US officials. Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the genocide, which has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, with women and children accounting for most of the casualties.