Palestinian-American Christians call on Biden to revisit policy against Hamas

Washington (QNN)- Palestinian-American Christians asked US President Joe Biden to revisit his policy against Hamas, stressing that it is not a terrorist group, but a freely-elected movement.

The Palestinian Christian Alliance For Peace (PCAP) sent a letter to Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken following remarks made by Blinken in Ramallah on 25 May.

PCAP said that during a press conference in Ramallah, Blinken acknowledged Palestinians’ aspirations: “To live in freedom; to have their basic rights respected, including the right to choose their own leaders; to live in security; to have equal access to opportunity for themselves, for their children; to be treated with dignity.”

PCAP also called for the Biden administration to “reconsider its policy towards Hamas” and: “To support fair and transparent elections for Palestinians including Hamas and their candidates, and voters in East Jerusalem.”

PCAP co-chair Alex Awad commented saying that “During the events last month in Sheikh Jarrah, around the Damascus Gate and at the Al Aqsa Mosque, followed by Israel’s bombing of Gaza, major media in the US repeatedly described Hamas as a terrorist organisation.”

“We believe that assigning the label of ‘terrorist organisation’ to Hamas hides the more complicated truth that Hamas is a reflection and result of the untenable and unjust status quo in the land”, he added.

The letter noted that Hamas won Palestine’s 2006 parliamentary elections, which were observed by US NGOs and supported by the US. However, when Hamas won, “The US backed away from its endorsement of the democratic process and halted aid to the PA.”

The letter also affirmed that Hamas provides “Most everyday functions and services for its more than two million residents. In addition, many Palestinians support Hamas because they have seen little to no benefit from Fatah rule and what they have concluded are phony peace processes.”

“We have to say that Hamas is responding to decades of Israel’s violence and to the over fourteen years-long land, air and sea blockade that has devastated the Gaza Strip”, the letter added.

“Hamas even has a number of Palestinian Christians among its representatives and constituents.”