President-elect Donald Trump‘s victory has prompted officials from Hamas and other Palestinian leaders to call for a ceasefire with Israel, aiming to shift toward a peaceful statehood solution.
The call for a ceasefire has been a central point in Hamas’ messaging
Hamas Political Bureau member and spokesperson Basem Naim told Newsweek that Palestinians want an end to the war and their “legitimate rights.”
“The election of Trump as the 47th president of the USA is a private matter for the Americans,” Naim told the outlet, continuing, “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 added, “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 potential return to office is seen as a significant shift in U.S.-Israel relations
The relationship between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained notably close since Trump’s previous presidential term. The Hamas-Israel war has persisted for over a year, and during a mid-July meeting with Netanyahu, Trump said he wanted the war to end before he returned to the White House, according to The Times of Israel. However, the prime minister seeks to maintain control over Gaza in the aftermath of a potential ceasefire.
Despite disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over the war, the Israeli prime minister was the first to reach out and congratulate Trump on his win. He emphasized their commitment to maintaining a positive relationship between Israel and the U.S.
“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 obtained by Newsweek on Wednesday.
Palestinians are bracing for the impact of Trump’s policies
Trump’s second term in office raises concern in Palestine, with one person calling it a “new catastrophe in the history of the Palestinian people,“ Reuters reported.
“Despite the destruction, death, and displacement that we have witnessed, what is coming will be more difficult, it will be politically devastating,“ Abu Osama told the outlet.
Since Hamas launched a large-scale attack against Israel in October 2023, support has been divided within the U.S., a longstanding ally of Israel, between it and Palestinians who reside in Gaza and the West Bank.
