Hamas Claims Ready To Hold First Election In The Last 18 Years In Gaza

JAKARTA - Gaza's ruling Palestinian militant group, Hamas, said there was a cross-faction agreement to hold elections for the first time in 18 years in the trapped region.

Speaking to Palestinian local outlet Quds News, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said a meeting was held with the Palestinian Central General Election Committee (CEC) and armed factions in the Gaza Strip.

"There is a consensus that the atmosphere in the Gaza Strip is very positive and its condition is very supportive to hold this election," Qassem said, quoted by The National News September 29.

"Hamas is ready to hold elections," said Qassem.

Qassem gave the Palestinian Authority the responsibility to take the next step.

"We hope that the election date can be set as soon as possible and this requires the government to immediately issue a decision regarding this matter," said Qassem.

Earlier, Hamas leaders pushed for the first election since 2006 in Gaza last month.

At the time, Abdel Latif Al Qanou, spokesman for the militant group, said the elections were "natural rights" for Palestinians.

Meanwhile, CEC said it was awaiting approval from the cabinet to hold elections, without specifying when the election would be held.

Separately, Gaza researcher Ahmad Bassyouni said, although similar promises had been made by Hamas officials in holding elections in the past, there may have been a glimmer of hope this time.

"There is an election for a student commission scheduled to be held in April and every university in Gaza is part of one faction or another," he told The National.

"If this election is held, it will provide momentum for the election," he said.

If elections are held in Gaza and Fatah win, Bassyouni believes the Palestinian Authority will be more likely to hold legislative and presidential elections that have been promised since 2021, but have been canceled by authorities, arguing Israel prevents a vote in Jerusalem.

In the pre-election poll in 2021, it was stated that the President of Palestine as well as the chairman of Fatah's ruling party, Mahmoud Abbas, will most likely lose the presidential election.

Although any election in Gaza requires cross-faction approval, Bassyouni believes finding compromise should be easy.

"They really don't need all these tactical maneuvers," he said.

"Each faction can nominate the candidate and a vote can be held, then if there is a dispute it can be resolved later. I'm not sure why it will take a long time and planning," he said.