The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement-Hamas said at a press conference that the Palestinian Authority (PA) must end the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip in order to provide the enclave an equal standing in the upcoming elections.

The member of the movement's political bureau, Khalil Al-Hayya, stated that the PA must lift the sanctions it imposed on the Gaza Strip in 2017, including the suspension of salaries of thousands of former civil servants and stipends of families of Palestinians injured or killed during Israeli attacks.

"It's time to lift the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip. This is a popular demand. We call on our brothers in the Palestinian Authority and Fatah to end the sanctions," Al-Hayya added.

Moreover, he called for consensus on reasonable grounds between the political parties. "We must start from a political basis in defining the enemy and how to deal with it. If we agree on the minimum level of the political program, it will open the door wide for a greater consensus, and the ground must be ready for the formation of lists and for the factions to enter the elections."

Al-Hayya highlighted that Hamas is working on a number of scenarios, and the form of its participation in the upcoming elections depends on what is agreed in the Cairo talks due to be held next week.

"Our people can't go to vote while their hands are tied. Israel should not be allowed to determine who will run in our elections," he said, warning Israel against tampering with the elections by banning or arresting candidates.