Hamas fires back at Abbas, says ready for elections

Palestinian resistance faction Hamas on Sunday said it is ready to compete in the parliamentary and presidential elections and accused President Mahmoud Abbas of hampering its conduct.

In a Sunday statement, the resistance faction declared its readiness to compete in Palestinian elections and accused Abbas of stalling its procedures.

Hamas said that Abbas is not serious about conducting the elections, as he hasn’t issued a presidential decree setting a date for the polls.

The movement also condemned Abbas for demanding a written request from Hamas to hold elections, saying that the demand serves to “deepen the [Palestinian] divide” and avoid implementing the outcome of the reconciliation agreements.

On Saturday, former US President Jimmy Carter said that Abbas would hold presidential and legislative elections once he receives a written request in this regard from Hamas.

Rival Palestinian factions Fatah, which leader is Abbas himself, and Hamas signed a reconciliation deal in April of last year that called for the formation of a national unity government.

The government was formed last summer, but it has yet to assume full control of the Gaza Strip, which has been suffering under an all-out Israeli blockade since 2007.

The blockade has deprived 1.9 million residents in the coastal territory of almost all basic needs.