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Roundup: Hamas criticizes High Court decision to suspend local elections

Xinhua, September 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Islamic Hamas movement, currently ruling the Gaza Strip, criticized on Thursday the Palestinian High Court decision to suspend procedures for holding municipal elections slated for Oct. 8.

Mahmoud al-Zahar, top Hamas leader in Gaza, told Xinhua by phone that the court ruling is "political, but illegal."

He added that the problem "is not with the court's decision, the problem is in the failure of preparing the lists of candidates, who compete in the elections."

The Palestinian High Court's ruling halts the process of holding local elections in the Palestinian territories, limited to the West Bank and Gaza, scheduled for Oct. 8.

The court ruling follows a special session held in Ramallah's High Court, based on an appeal presented by Palestinian attorney Nael Al-Hooh.

Al-Hooh told Xinhua that the court "ordered to stop the elections until it comes to a final decision regarding the motion presented to cancel elections."

"The basis of the objection is against not including East Jerusalem in the call for holding the elections and against the status of court houses in Gaza," said Al-Hooh.

The Islamic Hamas movement has ruled over the Gaza Strip ever since 2007.

The attorney said the court will schedule later hearing sessions regarding the motion presented to cancel local elections.

Currently the attorney awaits an answer from the Palestinian Elections Commission.

Palestinians are now preparing to hold local elections on Oct. 8 to elect local governing bodies such as municipalities and village or town councils.

Al-Zahar said that the elections were cancelled for no reason.

The Palestinian High Court ruling to suspend municipal elections was taken shortly after a Hamas-run court in southern Gaza decided that five lists of Fatah Party candidates, loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, are unfit to run.

The Fatah Party in Gaza rejected Hamas's court decision and described annulling its list of candidates as "illegal massacre."

Meanwhile, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called for wisdom when dealing with the consequences of the High Court ruling which suspended local elections.

Salah el-Bardaweel, a senior Gaza-based Hamas leader, said in an emailed press statement that Hamas rejects the court ruling, adding that "Hamas calls on Palestinians to reject the court's ruling."

Meanwhile, the Hamas movement block in the inoperative parliament, better known as the Palestinian Legislative Council, said in an emailed press statement that canceling the local elections "is not accepted." Endit