How will Hamas participate in upcoming elections?
After Hamas announced its readiness to participate in Palestinian elections, the leadership is considering the current circumstances and past experiences in order to come up with an effective way to take part in the polls.
Hamas’ politburo head Ismail Haniyeh said Oct. 28 that Hamas is ready to participate in the Palestinian elections and respect their results if the conditions of transparency are met and there is respect for the balloting without fear or hesitation.
Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar announced the party’s readiness to hold elections and its intention to rectify strategic paths in the history of the Palestinian people.
Haniyeh and Sinwar spoke during a press conference in Gaza after a meeting between Palestinian factions and a delegation from the Central Election Commission that visited Gaza on Oct. 27.
Hamas seems to have agreed on legislative elections only, without insisting on holding both presidential and legislative simultaneously as it previously demanded. Following the meeting in Gaza, the elections commission director, Hisham Kahil, told Voice of Palestine radio Oct. 30 that Hamas has agreed to hold the legislative elections first, followed by the presidential ones.
