In the wake of former President Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, the complex and intensifying situation in the Middle East has once again taken center stage, with Palestinian factions and Israeli leadership reacting to what many see as a pivotal moment.
Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, expressed hope that Trump’s election could lead to an immediate end to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and open a path for Palestinian statehood. Naim’s statement underscored Hamas’s call for the U.S. to reconsider its longstanding support for Israel, which he described as detrimental to regional stability. Hamas has called on the U.S. to recognize Palestinian claims to self-determination, particularly over Jerusalem.
While Naim’s comments signal Hamas’s hope for a shift in U.S. policy under Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s victory, describing it as an opportunity to reinforce the “great alliance between Israel and America.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No way <a href="https://t.co/7EvEUZyPEO">pic.twitter.com/7EvEUZyPEO</a></p>— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1854357806242992556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>, highlighting a shared vision for a stronger partnership to address regional security threats, particularly from Iran. The Israeli leader and Trump spoke shortly after the election, affirming a commitment to Israel’s security and discussing the escalating tensions with Iran.
No way pic.twitter.com/7EvEUZyPEO
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) November 7, 2024
This election occurs amid a period of intense conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions, with violence extending beyond Gaza to include confrontations with Hezbollah in Lebanon and exchanges with other Iran-aligned groups across the region.
For Israel, the stakes are high; Netanyahu’s administration is navigating an expanding conflict with factions across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s handling of U.S. military support for Israel has sparked criticism from various groups, with pro-Israel advocates urging stronger measures, and pro-Palestinian voices pressing for greater accountability over civilian impacts in Gaza.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has historically had a contentious relationship with Trump, also offered his congratulations, expressing cautious optimism that Trump might work toward a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Abbas’s comments highlighted the Palestinian Authority’s long-standing demand for independence in line with international law and stressed the importance of achieving peace through diplomacy.
Trump’s first term was marked by a controversial “Deal of the Century,” a Middle East peace proposal that many in the Palestinian leadership and international community opposed due to its favorability toward Israel, granting recognition of Israeli settlements and designating Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
While the plan did not gain traction, it set the stage for Trump’s 2020 Abraham Accords, which led to diplomatic agreements between Israel and several Arab nations, a development that transformed parts of the regional landscape. Trump also escalated tensions with Iran, pulling out of the nuclear deal and enacting military actions, including the killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.