A senior Hamas official has urged an immediate halt to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and proposed a plan for establishing Palestinian statehood in comments shared with Newsweek following former President Donald Trump’s recent election victory.
“The election of Trump as the 47th president of the USA is a private matter for the Americans,” Hamas Political Bureau member and spokesperson Basem Naim told Newsweek, “but Palestinians look forward to an immediate cessation of the aggression against our people, especially in Gaza, and look for assistance in achieving their legitimate rights of freedom, independence, and the establishment of their independent self-sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
“The blind support for the Zionist entity ‘Israel’ and its fascist government, at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region, must stop immediately,” he added.
Hamas Political Bureau member and spokesperson Basem Naim told Newsweek that while the election of Trump as the 47th U.S. president is primarily an internal American issue, Palestinians hope for an immediate end to the violence against their people, especially in Gaza. Naim expressed a desire for support in their pursuit of freedom, independence, and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He further called for an end to what he described as “unquestioning support” for Israel and its government, stating that such support jeopardizes the future of Palestinians and threatens the security and stability of the entire region.
Reached for comment, an Israeli official told Newsweek that “maintaining and building upon the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel has been a bipartisan feature of American politics since the founding of the Jewish state.”
“We have no doubt that this will continue to be the case,” the Israeli official said. “Going forward, we look forward to a strong working relationship with his administration to bring about a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Middle East.”
Despite substantial U.S. military aid, ongoing signs of disagreement persisted between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu over the direction of the war. Meanwhile, Netanyahu became the first to congratulate Donald Trump on what was hailed as “the greatest comeback in history.”
“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” Netanyahu said in his statement Wednesday.
Netanyahu later had a conversation with Trump, which Israeli officials described as “warm and cordial.” During the exchange, the two leaders “agreed to work together for Israel’s security” and also discussed concerns about the Iranian threat.
Newsweek has contacted Hezbollah and the Iranian Permanent Mission to the United Nations for comment.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated into a broad regional struggle, now encompassing Israel’s air and ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, strikes from Axis of Resistance groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, and even direct exchanges between Israel and Iran. In the United States, the conflict has sparked sharp divides in foreign policy.
President Biden has maintained military support for Israel while urging increased measures to protect civilians.
However, he faces criticism from both sides: Israel’s supporters argue he’s not doing enough for America’s ally, while pro-Palestinian advocates fault him for not restraining Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has mirrored the Biden administration’s stance, calling for peace and showing empathy for civilians affected by the war, though firmly opposing calls to halt arms sales to Israel.
On Wednesday, Hamas released a statement urging an end to Israel’s operations in Lebanon and calling on the U.S. to cease military support and diplomatic backing for Israel, while recognizing Palestinian rights.
“The American president-elect is required to listen to the voices that have been raised from American society itself for more than a year regarding the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip,” the statement said, “rejecting the occupation and genocide, and objecting to support and bias toward the Zionist entity.”
Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads the West Bank-based government that rivals the Gaza-based Hamas, also congratulated Trump on his election victory Wednesday.
Abbas expressed “his aspiration to work with President Trump for peace and security in the region” and stressed “the commitment of our people to seek freedom, self-determination and statehood, in accordance with international law,” according to a statement published by the Palestine News and Information Agency (WAFA).
“We will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace,” Abbas was quoted as saying, “and we are confident that under your leadership the United States will support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
Both Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas repeatedly criticized Trump’s Middle East policies during his time in office, including his 2018 decision to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city of Jerusalem and his 2020 proposal aimed at resolving the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
(Newsweek)
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