While the ceasefire of Hamas-Israel continues, the political leaders of the Palestinian group expressed prudent optimism as to the capacity of the news its first weeks in power on the “cleaning” of Gaza and the “biblical right From Israel to the occupied West Bank.
Addressing Tel Aviv Tribune, Basem Naim, a leader of Hamas based in Doha, said that the group was “interested in meeting anyone who can help us achieve our objectives, which are the objectives of our people”. He cited the State, self -determination and the right to return for the Palestinians who fled or were forced to leave their house after the Nakba in 1948 – when Israel was created on the majority of historic Palestine – or following wars.
This includes the Trump administration, said Naim. “If there is a chance to meet a game, including the Trump administration, to discuss in detail about how we can achieve such objectives, I think there would be no veto in the movement and no objections. “
“In politics, it is not a question of loving someone or not to love someone,” added Naim, in reference to the American president. “These are the interests of all parties.”
Naim’s comments followed similar feelings shared by the senior Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzouk, in an interview with the New York Times on January 20. Abu Marzouk said the group was “prepared for a dialogue with America”, and praised Trump as “a serious president”, creating the end of the War of Israel-Hamas.
The comments seem to report an opening by Hamas to an American administration, which, according to them, will deploy a more upper approach to the conflict even if it remains firmly pro-Israeli.
Short-term ceasefire, long-term strategy
Naim welcomed Trump’s intervention in the cease-fire talks who had wounded under President Joe Biden, and expressed his confidence that the agreement would hold. “We are determined in the agreement and to exert a maximum effort to give this agreement a chance to succeed,” he told Tel Aviv Tribune.
He also noted that the strategic alliance between the United States and Israel was “so strong that we have not witnessed any serious difference between the Republicans and the Democrats”.
“Despite this, we always hope that the current administration will be able to change and move on to a new American approach to the Palestinian issue,” he added. “If that happens, I’m sure we are ready to cooperate with any party that is ready to do so.”
Naim can express his prudent optimism, but he is also concerned about Trump’s long -term plans, citing comments on Israel’s “biblical law” to the West Bank occupied by Trump’s candidate to be American ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik, like “disappointing American” and “dangerous”.
He warned that the situation in the West Bank, where Israel made fatal raids following the ceasefire in Gaza and the violence of the colonists has reached new levels of intensity, as extremely volatile.
“We are talking about a very radical and extreme political group of people,” he said. “If nothing happens from the top – and especially the United States, the Trump administration – on this group of people, I think it’s a matter of time before seeing the next explosion.”
“With regard to the current situation, change in the United States has helped to reach a cease-fire agreement,” he added. “President Trump clearly said he wanted to see the end of this war before the day of the inauguration and he exerted pressure on the situation to see an end.”
But Trump’s apparent support has more seizures of Israeli land in occupied territory and the prospect of an official annexation of the West Bank was deeply disturbing, Naim said.
“Regarding the long -term strategy … I think it is very dangerous if we are looking for stability, security and prosperity in the region.”
“If Trump plans to remain firmly behind the promises he made, that he wants to see the end of all these wars and that he seeks peace, stability and normalization, I am sure he is aware and That his team is aware that a war in the region does not serve these objectives, ”added Naim.
“If he really plans to achieve stability and security in the region and focus on other questions, he must put pressure on Netanyahu and his racist government and his coalition to stop this madness, stop state above the law. »»
“Personally, I think he will do it,” he added.
‘Is not going’
Sultan Barakat, political analyst and professor of public policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University of the Qatar Foundation, told Tel Aviv Tribune that Hamas had emerged from the 15 -month war proving its resilience despite military efforts all resources Israel to eradicate it.
“They are not going anywhere,” said Barakat, adding that it made the group a continuous political reality that Trump cannot avoid.
Hamas, for its part, recognizes Trump’s decisive role on its predecessor, while understanding that its administration does not necessarily point out an improvement.
“It’s not a question for the Palestinians. But I think they saw the difference he made when he entered the negotiations, the pressure he was able to exert, “said Barakat. “With Biden, for 15 months, they obtained many promises, and many red lines crossed Israel without consequences.”
“They see him as a serious person who said” stop “,” he added. “But that does not mean that he will be on the side of the Palestinians.”
Barakat stressed that there were other moments in the past in which Hamas felt optimistic about American policy towards Palestine, including in 2017, when the group changed its charter and deleted the language explicitly calling The destruction of Israel.
But the United States has “failed,” added Barakat. Although the current cease-fire agreement was a first step, he added, the second and third phases of the agreement, concerning reconstruction and governance in Gaza, have remained vague.
However, Trump was able to cross a dead end.
“With Biden, they have reached the bottom of what is expected of a world leader. And not only the Palestinians, I think that everyone involved in the process felt the same thing, “said Barakat. “He introduced many red lines and they were all crossed. He couldn’t do anything.
Barakat, who participated in negotiations between the American and Afghan Taliban, under the first Trump administration, noted that a similar dynamic took place at the time.
“When you have someone who enters and says,” You do this, and we don’t know what he said to others, but they have done it “, that on the surface is worthy of admiration”, he added. “They admire him. But they don’t trust him to move forward.
