Leaders of Hamas are calling on the international community not to follow through with threats to cut off funding to the Palestinian Authority following Hamas victory in last week’s election. The group pledged that all international aid would be used for social relief and not for violence. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke to reporters earlier today. “With the trust that was given to us by the Palestinian people, through a democratic, honest (election) process witnessed by hundreds of foreign observers and thousands of local ones, we call on you and the liberal world to respect the results of democracy and to respect the Palestinian will in accordance with the ballot boxes and to deal with the Palestinian people accordingly,” Haniyeh said. Haniyeh’s comment come as western leaders are meeting in London. The United States, Israel and the European Union have all threatened to cut off ties and funding to the Palestinian government if Hamas forms the new government. On Sunday the newly elected German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU will not fund the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas agrees to recognize the right of Israel to exist. However former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said the international community must find a way to continue supporting the Palestinian people. He said “Regardless of the government, I would hope that potential donors find alternative means to be generous to the Palestinian people [even] if the donor decides to bypass the Palestinian government completely.”