The Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip on Monday suspended voter registratin citing repression of their supporters in the West Bank.
“We’ve received verbal instructions from the local authorities to put voter registration on hold,” Central Electoral Commission chairman Jameel al-Khaldi said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri cited numerous “obstacles,” including the arrest of Hamas members in the West Bank, and saying the repression of political factions in the West Bank impeded registration and supervision of the poll.
Voter registration was to be the first step toward the implementation of the long-overdue reconciliation deal between the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed last May.
