Following Donald Trump’s election win as the 47th president of the United States, a senior official from Hamas has called for an immediate halt to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. In an exclusive statement to Newsweek, Basem Naim, a member of Hamas' Political Bureau, expressed that while Trump’s election is "an internal matter for Americans," Palestinians hope it brings an end to Israeli "aggression" and supports their aspirations for statehood, with Jerusalem as their capital.


Naim criticized the longstanding U.S. support for Israel, calling for a shift in policy to promote "freedom, independence, and the establishment of an independent self-sovereign state" for Palestinians. He emphasized the need to stop backing what he referred to as Israel's "fascist government" and argued that sustained American military aid only destabilizes the region.


During his previous term, Trump had a strong alliance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and took bold steps like moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and launching the Abraham Accords, which normalized Israel’s relations with some Arab nations. However, Trump’s policies toward Palestinians, including the so-called "deal of the century," were widely criticized by Palestinian leaders.


As the conflict has recently extended beyond Gaza, involving Hezbollah and other factions in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, U.S. foreign policy has come under intense scrutiny. Current U.S. President Joe Biden has continued military support for Israel while calling for measures to limit civilian harm. However, he faces criticism from both pro-Israel supporters and pro-Palestinian advocates, who feel he has not done enough to mediate the escalating violence.


Netanyahu was quick to congratulate Trump on his victory, labeling it as "history’s greatest comeback." The Israeli prime minister expressed hope for strengthening U.S.-Israel relations under Trump’s renewed leadership and discussed a shared commitment to Israel’s security and concerns about Iran.


Both Hamas and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have issued statements following Trump’s election. Abbas voiced hope for working with Trump towards "peace and security in the region," while Hamas called for an end to the U.S. military support for Israel, urging the American president-elect to recognize Palestinian "legitimate rights" and respond to growing opposition within American society against Israel’s actions in Gaza.