The International Commission (Hashd) admires the outcomes of the national consultative conference and asks for an establishment of conditions that are essential for the success of the local council elections.

Reference number: 79/2023

Date: August 14, 2023

Native language: Arabic

Press release

The International Commission (Hashd) admires the outcomes of the national consultative conference and asks for an establishment of conditions that are essential for the success of the local council elections.

The International Commission (Hashd) welcomed the outcomes of the national consultative conference, which reached a broad agreement on the importance of organizing and holding elections for municipalities in the Gaza Strip.

The outcomes of the national consultative meeting were met with welcome and optimism, especially given that they come after many years of depriving the Palestinian people and citizens of exercising their inherent and constitutional right to free, fair, and periodic elections, and the division that pervaded them remains.

focusing on that the elections provide a chance to re-establish the confidence of local governments; Emphasizing that municipal elections are a national, constitutional, and legal right, as well as a return to the will of the people after a long period of discrimination, and encouraging residents to utilize their right to run and vote; highlighting the significance of safeguarding elections and ensuring all national political and legal assurances and standards for their conduct; Given that it is vital to avoid all of the exclusions that have hampered the completion of previous election tracks; The Commission  state and demand the following:

1. The International Commission (Hashd): calls on the Palestinian leadership to respond to the outcomes of the national consultative conference as soon as possible; Assigning the Palestinian Central Elections Committee to supervise the organization of the elections.
2. The International Commission (Hashd): emphasizes the necessity of maintaining the periodic elections strategy as the sole means for peaceful power transfer, particularly in local authorities; consider this as a prelude to finishing the sequence of general elections.
3. The International Commission (Hashd): urges all parties to work immediately to agree on a political and national path that guarantees the provision of a preparing and enabling environment for free and fair elections; including the launch of public and press freedoms; providing free access to information; addressing the legacy of past abuses; and stopping political bickering and conflicts and adopting a unitary media discourse, and ensuring the freedom of action of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)  and trade unions and enabling them to play their oversight role.
4. The International Commission (Hashd): Calls on all parties and sectors to participate in the voting process and to overcome any barriers that may arise. While adhering to the election dates and results and honoring the decision of the voters.

Finished.

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (Hashd)