Registration for Palestinian municipal elections kicks off & Mishaal say Hamas is not afraid of it

Bethlehem/PNN/

Registration process for the Palestinian municipal elections has started on Saturday and is to continue over the next five days. The Central Committee for Municipal Elections called on Palestinian citizens to register their names according to their place of residence.

The registration process will continue till next Wednesday, the committee said. The committee pointed out that electronic registration is also available on its website.

An awareness campaign has been launched over the past few days to raise awareness among citizens about election registration in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), headed by Mahmoud Abbas, has said local and municipal polls will be held on October 8 throughout the Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, has earlier vowed to work for the success of local Palestinian elections set for October, considering it “a necessary and important step” in the path towards democracy and national partnership.

Head of Hamas’s political bureau Khaled Mishaal has affirmed that his Movement is not afraid of participating in any election and will respect its results.

Mishaal made his remarks in a recorded speech delivered during a graduation ceremony held to honor young participants in a resistance training program in Gaza on Friday. “We are on the threshold of a municipal election, and we have announced that we will engage in it, although some people may want to test us. We respect the result of the election and we are not afraid of it,” Mishaal said.

He emphasized his Movement’s respect for the Palestinian people’s free voice and strong will, and its keenness on having a real political partnership with other factions. He also hailed the armed wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, for its military achievements and its adherence to the resistance and liberation option.

Hamas official expressed his belief that the conflict with the Israeli occupation is “complex and ferocious” and needs strong strategies to confront it.

He highlighted the importance of providing the Palestinian people with a decent life and all means of steadfastness in order for them to be able to continue their resistance of the occupation.