A senior leader of Hamas has issued a call for an immediate halt to Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, along with a roadmap toward Palestinian statehood, in comments shared with Newsweek following former President Donald Trump’s recent election win.

“The election of Trump as the 47th president of the USA is a private matter for the Americans,” said Basem Naim, a spokesperson and member of the Hamas Political Bureau, to 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.”

Naim further emphasized that “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.”

In his prior time in office, Trump cultivated a strong alliance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Currently, Netanyahu is leading a multi-front military campaign against the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance, a conflict that escalated significantly following a major Hamas-led assault on Israel in October 2023. Yet, Trump has recently voiced criticism regarding Netanyahu’s leadership in the ongoing war and has advocated for a swift resolution.

When Newsweek reached out, an Israeli representative reaffirmed the enduring bond between the United States and Israel, stating 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.”

The official added, “We have no doubt that this will continue to be the case. Going forward, we look forward to a strong working relationship with his administration to bring about a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Middle East.”

{Matzav.com}