State of Palestine: Outcry after West Bank local elections exclude Gaza Strip

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A Hamas spokesperson joined Gaza Strip locals in condemning the local elections in the West Bank after the exclusion of the territory from the vote, on Saturday.

The elections are not taking place in the Gaza Strip but elsewhere in Palestinian territories. Resident Dr Hassan Al- Saadouni reacted by saying: “This is very shameful for elections to take place in the West Bank and in Gaza, there are no elections.”

The elections are the first since 2017 and have subsequently been boycotted by Hamas.

More than 400,000 Palestinians are eligible to vote in municipal elections in the West Bank.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Hazem Qassam, Hamas Spokesperson (Arabic): “There is a Palestinian national refusal to conduct this process in this fragmented way. The government in Ramallah worked to hold elections only within areas in the West Bank to escape the basic elections. Hamas is with a comprehensive and integrated electoral process that is consistent with the vision of the rest of the Palestinian factions. There is a nation-wide refusal to conduct this process in such a fragmented manner. The government in Ramallah sought to conduct the elections inside certain areas inside the West Bank in order to evade from the general elections. Hamas upholds comprehensive and full general elections that align with the visions of other Palestinian factions.”

SOT, Dr. Hassan Al- Saadouni, Palestinian citizen (Arabic): “They must participate [in the elections], this is how the system works. We are in 2022 of the 21st century, it is impossible for the situation to remain as it is in terms of lack of democratic and electoral process. I need to be represented in the localities, unions, legislative Council and Presidency. Half of Palestinians now didn’t take part in democratic or electoral process.”

SOT, Mayar Abu Shaaban, Citizen (Arabic): “I think Gaza Strip has been excluded from the local and municipal elections. This is wrong because we are supposed to be one people in one country. We must let go of the division so that Gaza and the West Bank are equal. We would like Gaza to have a role in the municipal elections in a firm and effective manner.”

SOT, Ghassan Sharif, Citizen (Arabic): “The people of Gaza Strip are oppressed. The Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas does not help the people of Gaza, and Hamas does not care for them, that is why we are always isolated from the world and from taking part in elections, donations, projects, hospitals and healthcare services in Palestine. We are not equal to the people in West Bank regarding these matters; we are deprived.”

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