Hamas calls for international intervention to stop detention of election candidates

Hamas leaders Essam Aldalis (L) Rawhi Mushtaha (C) Khalil Al-Hayya (R) walk outside the VIP hall at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip on March 15, 2021 as a delegation from Gaza travels to Egypt for talks with Fatah ahead of the Palestinian elections scheduled later. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, called on Tuesday for immediate international intervention to stop Israel’s detention of its parliamentary election candidates. The movement made the announcement at the Palestinian Central Elections Commission in Ramallah.

Israel is arresting Hamas members ahead of the election – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

“Israel is detaining candidates in order to affect the results of the election,” said Alaa Humeidan, the spokesman of the Hamas-aligned Al-Quds is Our Destiny electoral list. Two candidates on the list have already been detained by the Israeli occupation authorities, and others have been threatened with arrest.

“We are calling for immediate international intervention to stop Israeli aggression and protect the Palestinian democratic endeavour,” explained Humeidan. Pressure is needed to obtain the release of candidates Najeh Asi and Hassan Al-Wardyan, he added.

Hamas will never be intimidated by Israel and its tactics, Humeidan insisted. “The movement and its election candidates are working to keep the Palestinian cause alive.”

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