Hamas has acted in the Palestinian interests by taking the decision to participate in Palestinian elections, member of Hamas Political Bureau Husam Badran said.

“If all sides have good intentions, I’m sure that we’ll be able to overcome all domestic obstacles,” Badran added in a press release.

Everyone has to realise that legislative and presidential elections are completely different from local elections, Badran continued, warning against the “negative experience” that took place in the latest municipal elections. 

Badran pointed out that Hamas and its members in the occupied West Bank have been targeted in fierce campaigns by Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority.

In a related context, the senior Hamas official confirmed that the Israeli occupation government is lying at and fooling families of captive Israeli soldiers into believing that progress has been made in negotiations with the Palestinian resistance.