Palestinian PM Urges Hamas to Hold Elections in Gaza

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
Ramallah, 17 Sha’ban 1438/14 May 2017 (MINA) – Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah called on Hamas’ new leadership to hold local elections in the Gaza Strip as part of the ongoing municipal elections in the West Bank.

“Today, we witness a democratic process in the West Bank as we hoped we could have also seen it in the Gaza Strip if it was not for Hamas’ prevention from holding the elections there. We demand the Movement’s new political leadership to reconsider this matter,” KUNA reported, citing Hamdallah in a press conference Saturday.

If Hamas agrees, the electoral committee would be all set to hold the elections within just a month in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Premier added, urging the Movement to respond to President Mahmoud Abbas’ initiative to hold presidential and legislative elections.

The municipal elections in the West Bank are currently held under very difficult circumstances for the sake of the Palestinian people, who truly deserve an independent state, Hamdallah indicated.

Despite the occupation and siege by the Israeli forces, the Palestinian municipal elections are going on very well in a clear message to the world that the Palestinian are worthy of a state. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)