Gaza government agrees to Central Election Commission updating electoral register

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

The government in Gaza has agreed that the Central Election Commission can start to update the electoral register in the beleaguered territory. It is estimated by the commission that this will take about 6 weeks to complete. The decision was made in a meeting between the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, and a delegation of the Commission from the occupied West Bank; the delegation was led by the Electoral Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Hanna Nasir.

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Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Awad, explained that Mr. Haniyeh issued the directive giving the go-ahead for the Electoral Commission to start work in Gaza along with orders for all concerned bodies and individuals to facilitate its work across the Strip. Dr. Awad was joined in the press conference by Dr. Nasir and they pointed out that the Commission will be in constant communication with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in Gaza; it will coordinate its work with relevant ministries and discuss details with all Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.

The delegation of the Central Electoral Commission included Hisham Kahil, Executive Director; Dr. Rami El-Hamd Allah, the Secretary General of the Commission; and Dr. Khawla Al-Shakhshir. The team entered Gaza from Israel via the Erez Crossing.

MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad