Hamas to take part in local elections

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has announced that it will take part in the upcoming local and municipal elections called by the national government, Quds Press reported on Friday.

Hamas said that it will “facilitate” the elections and “make sure” that they succeed on condition that there are “transparency guarantees, equal opportunities and respect for the results.” In a statement, the movement reiterated the importance of the democratic process through conducting presidential and parliamentarian elections, as well as elections for the Palestinian National Council.

“This step is part of Hamas’s interest to reorder the Palestinian home, reinforce the partnership principle and bear its national responsibilities during a very sensitive period,” said a spokesman.

Hamas is the seventh Palestinian faction to have declared its participation in the local elections, which were announced by the government last month; they will be held on 8 October.

The last time that municipal elections took place was in 2012 across the occupied West Bank. In protest at the ousting of the previous municipal councils and national disagreement, Hamas refused to take part and blocked them in the Gaza Strip.