Middle East - Hamas - elections

Hamas to ban elections in Gaza

Article published on the 2009-10-28 Latest update 2009-10-28 13:55 TU

Hamas police officers march in Gaza City
(Photo: Reuters)

The Hamas-run Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza announced on Wednesday that it would ban elections called for by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas, part of the rival Fatah party, had called for elections to be held 24 January after Hamas refused to sign a reconciliation agreement with the Fatah party.

The ministry "rejects the holding of electons in the Gaza Strip because they were announced by someone who has no right to make such an annoncement because they came without national agreement," according to the statement.

Analysts indicated that forcing Hamas' hand would get the armed group to sign the deal, which Abbas denies. Hamas, however, called the move "illegal and unconstitutional."

Abbas had his four-year term extended one more year to 9 January 2010 in order to hold parliamentary and presidential elections at the same time as required by Palestinian Basic Law.

Hamas has rejected Abbas' one-year extension, which was made by Fatah.

Egypt had proposed earlier this year that elections should be held in June 2010, which was accepted by Fatah, but Hamas said it had to study the proposition.

Currently, Palestinians are physically divided into political camps in the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas controls Gaza while Fatah controls the West Bank. Both sides accuse each other of persecuting their opponents living in each territory.