Drawing on past lessons, Hamas submits inclusive electoral list
Just hours ahead of the deadline to register electoral lists for the Palestinian legislative elections set for May 22, Hamas presented a list of 132 candidates representing the Gaza Strip, West Bank and Jerusalem.
While the majority of the Palestinian factions have registered their electoral lists for the legislative elections slated for May 22, Hamas waited for March 29 to submit its list.
The list included 132 candidates from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, including Hamas leaders, representatives of trade unions, women, young people, academics, prisoners in Israeli jails and others in exile.
Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau, is heading the movement’s electoral list. He said in a press statement March 29 that Hamas wants to associate its list with Jerusalem and also include technocrats. He expressed hope that the elections would pave the way to ending the Palestinian division.
Though registration opened on March 20, Hamas presented its list just hours before the deadline on March 29. The movement spent the time in consultations at home and abroad and watched as other factions submitted their own lists.
