After 16 years in the scene of governance and politics: Hamas and the Gaza Strip, where to?!

The Palestinian citizen in the Gaza Strip has the right to ask: How long do we need to improve our living conditions and feel safe and reassured about the future of our children? Is there a near relief looming on the horizon, or is the case a continuation of fanfare in the place without hope or wishes!!

As for the question of the educated elite (the intelligentsia), which is burdened with frustration, disappointment, and mistrust, it revolves around: the possibility of new intentions and wills to come down from the tree after its trunk has reached, its branches intertwined, and the soil around it has dried up, as if I were about to fall by itself!!

The question that is repeated on the tongues of many public and private, and in the language of blame and admonition: Why are initiatives absent and we do not hear many new proposals, and even if this happens, they are quickly obliterated and finished off or marginalized?! And the rope - unfortunately - is left on its own for guesses and more accusations, and the bad intentions that this or that party harbors!!

Among the legitimate questions concerning Hamas in this regard is the reason behind the movement’s delay in the Gaza Strip in presenting an initiative or presenting an approach that relieves it of embarrassment, and the street’s accusations that it will not give up power or even open the door to partnership in it, although there is a lot Among the attempts that ended with meetings and broad smiles, the result was (Titi, Titi, as you went, you came)!!

Today, the age of the Hamas movement in the scene of governance and politics has exceeded sixteen years, and the people’s complaint here in the Gaza Strip still exists: Why has political life been disrupted, as there are no new parties, no municipal or union elections, not even students!! And the professional elections that took place - despite their fewness - were dominated by the character of (partisan collages), which had nothing to do with democratic life or its flavor!! As for the generations of university graduates during the last fifteen years - and they are in the tens of thousands - they say that democracy was a motto in the life of our early fathers!!

And with these questions that we raise, this question imposes itself: Isn't it the right of these generations to enjoy a decent life, to be part of the democratic act, and to witness real competitions in which they have a role in shaping the future of their country and determining its destiny?! Is this generation required to surrender to the vision of the factions in order to live, even if it requires it to be a political hypocrite and devoid of human dignity?!

It is really unfortunate that, years before the division, we were holding municipal and legislative elections, but the calculations of this or that party complicated the scene and thwarted the attempt, and we returned to the square of arguments and accusations, and the street was stunned. Because the truth was clear, and the sieve of Fatah and Hamas did not succeed in obscuring it from the masses.

Today, the question posed to Hamas is that we live within the circle of its administrative and security mandate, and we have disengaged from the occupation. And that our political decision will be subject to our will since 2005, and we have previously held legislative elections in which the Hamas movement prevailed, and was able - with satisfaction - to form a government in its name.. Unfortunately, on June 14, 2007 things faltered, and armed confrontations took place, in which much blood was shed. Rivalry and wounds deepened.. We tried to overcome the catastrophe and heal the rift by signing the Mecca Agreement and forming a government of national unity, but the efforts were not crowned with success, and we failed to address our internal differences, and we all lost preserving the unity of the homeland, and lurking returned with the language of threat and intimidation, until the breach widened on the patch. To this day.

Today.. the stage and the questions!!
After 16 years of the arrival of Hamas on the scene of governance and politics, and its steadfastness in the face of all forms of war, Israeli aggression, international conspiracy and regional complicity, there are three questions that cannot be evaded or ignored, and the leadership of the movement - in the context of necessity - To provide answers to them, in order to preserve the vitality of the discussions within the popular incubator, as there are no taboos that restrict the spaces of dialogue or define what is permitted or prohibited to be discussed intellectually and nationally, and the citizen and his political elite can, in light of the world of questions and the strangeness of policies and positions, raise his voice with the question: To Where are we going? And what is our next stop? Is there a way out? Do I have the right to scream exhausted by the feeling of the dump on his face? Is there - really - any hope for an end to this division, and to see our masses on a straight path!!

We have four possible challenges ahead of us, and we must undertake them to create a national movement that can pave the way to a better future for the Gaza Strip and for our national project in general. In the past, they said: "If the determination is true, the way will be clear." Therefore, the "capable" challenges revolve around four directions, namely:

The first trend: municipal elections
I believe that there is nothing to prevent Hamas from holding these elections, as is the case in the West Bank, but perhaps the need here is more important, since the Gaza Strip is run by Hamas, which is what makes the West and many European countries in particular refrain from providing humanitarian aid and equipment vital to the municipalities of the sector. These are pretexts that we cannot argue with them. Due to the considerations of Western laws that limit their freedom of action humanely under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

The municipal elections are a clever attempt to close the door to pretexts, and open the way for the sector to integrate into the international community, and not push Hamas - as an act of resistance - into a corner.

The municipal elections, if they take place, will produce a national assembly that represents the Palestinian whole, and this whole will bear full responsibility, not Hamas alone.

The second trend: partnership in government management
After 16 years of Hamas managing the Gaza Strip, isn't it time for the nation's partners to be part of the management of government affairs? Yes; There are meetings of the National and Islamic Action Committee, but such meetings have nothing to do with managing public affairs, and do not reflect the spirit of partnership and national spectacle. Therefore, there must be a selection of national party figures or technocrats within the composition of the Government Action Committee, and this selection is motivated according to the data of competence, professionalism, and national partnership.

The third trend: student bloc elections

There is nothing to prevent holding elections inside institutes and universities, despite the state of polarization spread throughout the country, and we have witnessed intense competition among student blocs in West Bank universities such as An-Najah, Birzeit and Hebron, but - frankly - they were "bright", regardless of who issued the results of Al-Quoz in it from Fatah or Hamas, but it is a fact that serves as a model for general national elections.

I hope that no party will put a limitation on the launch of such elections, and that all parties will prepare for them in the Palestinian universities in the Gaza Strip.

The fourth trend: Opening the door to partisan political action
The main objective behind this is to revitalize political life and give an opportunity for the emergence of new political entities and leaders. Political life must regain its vitality by embracing a generation of promising youth within organizational frameworks other than those that were emptied of their content, due to years of estrangement and failure.

Many countries give priority to political development and urging young people to participate in elections and political action, given the importance of this matter in the process of peaceful transfer of power and the achievement of security and stability.

In conclusion, the municipal elections in the Gaza Strip today are an urgent demand, and there is no reason to delay it. It will not constitute coercion on Hamas, but rather a necessity to reduce its burdens, and provide a form of partnership in managing public national affairs.. We hope that this year will not pass without The decisive decision was taken to hold municipal elections before the end of next year.