President Donald Trump speaks to Muslim leaders in Riyadh. (AP/Evan Vucci) (AP/Evan Vucci)
Donald Trump

Hamas rejected Trump’s branding of it as a terror organization, like ISIS and Al Qaeda.

The Hamas terror group accused US President Donald Trump of exposing his bias towards Israel, after Trump included Hamas in a list of terrorist groups that he said posed a global threat of “epic proportions.”

In a speech delivered to some 50 leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority countries in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Sunday, Trump said: “We now face a humanitarian and security disaster in this region that is spreading across the planet. It is a tragedy of epic proportions.”

“No description of the suffering and depravity can begin to capture its full measure. The true toll of ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and so many others, must be counted not only in the number of dead. It must also be counted in generations of vanished dreams,” he said, in his first speech delivered abroad since taking office.

He implored Middle Eastern countries to extinguish what he called “Islamic extremism” emanating from the region, describing the conflict as a “battle between good and evil.”

Trump also briefly referred to his upcoming meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas, who was in attendance at the summit. “If these three (Abrahamic) faiths can join, peace in this world is possible, including peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” Trump said.

Hamas reacted to the speech by stating that Trump’s designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization “is biased” and is in compliance “with the Israeli Occupation’s policies.”

“Trump’s remarks will not thwart our goal of liberating Palestine, nor will they hinder our people’s steadfastness and resistance,” Hamas stated.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said from Gaza City that Trump’s remarks are a “misrepresentation of facts.” He dubbed the speech a “confirmation” that Trump is following the policy of previous administrations.

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, European Union (EU), and UK, as well as other countries.

Hamas has repeatedly declared that its ultimate goal is to destroy the Jewish State and that it aspires to establish an Islamic state in its stead, while attempting to style itself as a Palestinian national movement.

By: United with Israel Staff