Hamas to Change Name

Disturbed by reports that its name has become synonymous with terrorism, Hamas announced today that it is renaming itself Peace and Love.

A spokesman for Peace and Love said that the Party wants world leaders to regard it differently.  “We just won an election in Palestine.  We are now poised to lead the Palestinian people, and we intend to be taken seriously by the international community.  We thought that a name change would help us accomplish all of that.”

The spokesman, brandishing a submachine gun and with a ten-inch knife lashed to his waist with a belt, stressed that the name change would not alter the organization's policy stances, however. “We still believe in the utter destruction of Israel and still intend to promote the use of suicide bombings and other violent action against innocents to achieve our aim,” he said. “But now when a bus blows up in a crowded shopping district, people won’t be blaming Hamas, they’ll be blaming Peace and Love.  But everyone is for peace and love, so we figure they won't be that upset.”

The spokesman acknowledged that over time the name change tactic could backfire, with Peace and Love becoming synonymous with terrorism.  “When that happens,” he said, “we’ll just change our name back to Hamas.”