Following the victory of former President Donald Trump in the November 5, 2024 United States (U.S.) presidential election, a senior Hamas official has called for an end to Israel’s war against the group in Gaza Strip and renewed focus on Palestinian statehood.
In comments shared with Newsweek, Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau and spokesperson, emphasised the group’s desire for an “immediate cessation of the aggression” against Palestinians, particularly in Gaza.
“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.”
Naim further criticised the United States’ support for Israel, referring to it as “blind support for the Zionist entity ‘Israel’ and its fascist government.”
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He warned that such backing “must stop immediately” to ensure regional stability and security.
Trump’s victory reintroduces the former president’s complex dynamics with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he maintained close ties during his previous tenure.
Netanyahu, currently embroiled in a multifront conflict against the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance following a large-scale Hamas-led assault on Israel in October 2023, now faces scrutiny over his wartime decisions.
Trump himself has voiced criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict, advocating for a swift resolution.
