HAMAS READY FOR ELECTIONS, SAYING ABBAS'S CLAIM "UNTRUE"

Gaza, 27 Rabiul Awal 1437/7 January 2015 (MINA) – The Hamas Movement has categorically denied that it opposes holding Palestinian elections, describing recent remarks by president Mahmoud Abbas in this regards as “untrue and unfounded.”

Abbas claimed in a speech on Wednesday that Hamas had told him of its opposition to the holding of elections. The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied such claim and affirmed his Movement’s willingness to participate in all forms of elections in accordance with the Cairo reconciliation agreement.

As for the issue of the Rafah border crossing, spokesman Abu Zuhri reiterated that his Movement wants the Palestinian government to assume its responsibilities for Gaza and the Rafah crossing, without giving pretexts.

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The spokesman affirmed that Hamas has the right to hold consultations with the factions that proposed the recent initiative for ending the crisis of the Rafah crossing.

He also condemned Abbas for saying that the Egyptian authorities had the right to close the Rafah crossing, describing his remarks in this regard as an unacceptable justification for the closure of the crossing.

For his part, senior Hamas official and lawmaker Ismail al-Ashqar asserted that his Movement’s is “ready for the elections tomorrow” and accused Abbas of attempting to hold others responsibility for his problems. (T/P011/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)