Photos: Palestinian Supreme Court rules that municipal elections can go ahead, West Bank only

10 years ago

On Monday, the Supreme Court of Palestine ruled that municipal elections can go ahead, but only in the West Bank and not in the – Hamas controlled – Gaza Strip. The court, which is dominated by Fatah, had previously ruled that elections scheduled for 8 October this year, should be suspended across all areas of occupied Palestine because the were not able to be undertaken in occupied East Jerusalem.

However, this partial reversal of that ruling has been criticised by Hamas as a concession to Fatah, it said in a statement:

The judicial order to hold local elections in the West Bank and not in the Gaza Strip is deeply politicized and ordered by the will of Fatah

A cross section of Palestine’s opposition parties also critiqued the decision as overtly politicized.

The elections, if held, would be the first in 10 years in occupied Palestine. In the last legislative elections, in 2006, Hamas swept to a surprising victory. This set in motion a series of events that included an armed schism with Fatah and bifurcation of palestine politically and territorially.

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK – OCTOBER 3: Chief of Court Board Hisham al-Hantu (2nd L) reads the Palestinian Supreme Court’s decision that municipal elections can be held, but only in the West Bank and not in Gaza Strip on October 3, 2016 in Ramallah, West Bank. ( Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency )

Chief of Court Board Hisham al-Hantu (C) reads the Palestinian Supreme Court’s decision that municipal elections can be held, but only in the West Bank and not in Gaza Strip on October 3, 2016 in Ramallah, West Bank. [Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency]

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK – OCTOBER 3: Chief of Court Board Hisham al-Hantu reads the Palestinian Supreme Court’s decision that municipal elections can be held, but only in the West Bank and not in Gaza Strip on October 3, 2016 in Ramallah, West Bank. ( Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency )

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK – OCTOBER 3: Chief of Court Board Hisham al-Hantu (C) reads the Palestinian Supreme Court’s decision that municipal elections can be held, but only in the West Bank and not in Gaza Strip on October 3, 2016 in Ramallah, West Bank. ( Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency )

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK – OCTOBER 3: Chief of Court Board Hisham al-Hantu (C) leaves after he read the Palestinian Supreme Court’s decision that municipal elections can be held, but only in the West Bank and not in Gaza Strip on October 3, 2016 in Ramallah, West Bank. ( Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency )