'Important for local elections to be held on schedule,' insists Hamas

The deputy leader of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas -insisted on Friday that it is important for local elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to be held on schedule in October this year. “Amongst the calls to postpone, undermine or cancel the municipal elections,” said Ismail Haniyeh during his Friday sermon in a local mosque, “we call firmly for carrying them out on time, and based on faithful competition.”

Haniyeh reiterated that Hamas has decided to take part in the elections. “This is based on the movement’s belief in the need to reinforce the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and afford them the opportunity for whoever wants to serve the Palestinians and lessen their suffering.”

The top Hamas leader in Gaza added that the importance of the elections stems from the group’s belief in civil and political partnership. “We also believe that it will shake-up our politic situation, which is stagnant due to the sabotage of previous elections and reconciliation agreements.”

The former democratically-elected Palestinian prime minister also called for support for Palestinian prisoners held by the Israelis, especially those on hunger strike, to help them to achieve their goals. Political and diplomatic pressure from the Arab states is needed, he said, to put an end to Israeli “humiliation” of Palestinians prisoners. According to Haniyeh, the Palestinian resistance groups will keep on insisting on freeing the prisoners, as Hamas did in a 2011 swap deal with the Israelis.

Finally, he pointed out that the expansion of the Gaza Port would not be a “gift” from anyone, but the right of the Palestinians. “Building a port is an achievement related to the ceasefire talks in Cairo that ended the 2014 Israeli aggression,” he said.