GAZA, Sept 28 (NNN-WAFA) – The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), is planning to send an official request to the Palestinian Authority, to hold municipal elections in Gaza, for the first time in 18 years, a Palestinian official said yesterday.
Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman, said in a press statement that, the group had agreed with all other Palestinian factions, to send a message to the government in Ramallah, demanding to hold municipal elections in Gaza.
Qassem’s remarks came, after a meeting between Palestinian factions, including Hamas, and a delegation from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC), to discuss the possibility of holding elections in Gaza.
“We agreed with all other factions that we have reached the appropriate level, to hold local elections, to allow our people to choose their legislative representatives,” the spokesman said.
Hisham Khalil, executive director of the CEC, told journalists that, the commission had been informed of the full agreement of the Palestinian factions to hold local elections in Gaza, as soon as possible.
He said, the delegation would convey the “positive attitude” to the Palestinian government in Ramallah, to set a date soon for holding local elections in Gaza.
Last month, Hamas announced for the first time, its efforts to hold municipal elections in Gaza, receiving no comment from the Palestinian government.
Meanwhile, Munther al-Hayek, Fatah spokesman in Gaza, said in a statement that, his party was ready to hold municipal elections in Gaza, just as those held in the West Bank.
The last local elections in the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2.3 million people, were held in 2005.
