A senior Hamas official has called for an immediate end to Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, following Donald Trump’s victory as the 47th president of the United States. Basem Naim, a spokesperson for Hamas’ Political Bureau, made the plea during an interview with Newsweek, emphasizing the need for a renewed focus on Palestinian statehood.
Naim expressed hope that Trump’s presidency would lead to support for Palestinian efforts to achieve self-governance and freedom. “The election of Trump as the 47th president of the USA is a private matter for the Americans,” Naim stated. “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.”
He also criticized longstanding U.S. support for Israel, saying, “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.”
Trump’s election victory, which saw him defeat Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, signals the return of a Republican presidency that previously maintained a strong alliance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his first term, Trump and Netanyahu shared close ties. Netanyahu, meanwhile, is currently engaged in multiple conflicts, including ongoing hostilities with Hamas and other factions, following a large-scale attack on Israel in October 2023.
