An Arab American organization that supported President Donald Trump’s election has changed its name in the wake of his remarks about U.S. involvement in Gaza.
Trump commented on the U.S. taking over the area during a press conference Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that Palestinians could be relocated while Gaza is rebuilt. Soon after, the Arab Americans for Trump group announced it was changing its name to Arab Americans for Peace.
“He won, so we needed movement on the momentum of what we have done, and we finally decided to change the name to Arab Americans for Peace,” Bishara Bahbah, the group’s chair, told The Hill Wednesday. “Some in the press tried to tie what the president has said to our changing the name. In fact, it is connected and it’s not.”
The ceasefire agreement reached last month between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas is something Bahbah feels Trump is “able to enforce” but did not agree with the idea of pushing Palestinians out of the area.
He contended that “we categorically reject the whole notion of displacing or removing or transferring the Palestinians in Gaza. There is no place for Palestinians to go.”
President Trump on securing PEACE in Gaza: “The U.S. will take over the Gaza strip … and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site … create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing… pic.twitter.com/sr3rnO0fE4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 5, 2025
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president has “not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza. He has also said the United States is not going to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza.”
“The president has made it clear they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza for the rebuilding of this effort,” she said at a press briefing on Wednesday. “Again, it’s a demolition site right now. It’s not a livable place for any human being.”
Bahbah, whose organization helped Trump with outreach to Arab American communities in battleground states like Michigan, emphasized the need for lasting peace.
“Peace continues to be the primary motive, and as such, led us to changing the name,” Bahnah said.
STATEMENT FROM ARAB AMERICANS FOR “PEACE” pic.twitter.com/VTHKsBzYfD
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) February 6, 2025
“We appreciate the president’s offer to clean and rebuild Gaza. However, the purpose should be to make Gaza habitable for Palestinians and no one else,” the newly re-named group said in a press release on Wednesday.
“We strongly believe that the only lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine and the Israel-Arab conflict is a two-state solution — Israel and Palestine — living side by side in peace,” they added.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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