JERUSALEM, July 21, 2012 (WAFA) - The European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah welcomed in a statement the Palestinian Authority’s decision to hold local elections in the West Bank and Gaza on October 20 and criticized in a separate statement Hamas execution of three Gaza residents.

“Regular elections on all levels are a cornerstone for a future Palestinian State based on democratic values, respect for human rights and the rule of law,” said the statement issued Friday.

The EU, however, said it “deplores the suspension of the Central Elections Commission's (CEC) work to update the voters' registry in Gaza.”

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip since 2007, banned the CEC from continuing with its voter registration in Gaza, bringing to a total halt efforts to hold national and local elections.

As a result, the cabinet decided to go ahead with holding local elections on October 20, which could be held only in the West Bank in light of Hamas’ objections to holding them in Gaza.

In a separate statement issued on Thursday, the EU Missions condemned the execution of three persons in Gaza on Tuesday, describing it as cruel and inhuman.

The EU “considers capital punishment to be cruel and inhuman, failing to provide deterrence to criminal behaviour, and representing an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity,” said the statement.

It “considers that abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights,” added the statement.

“The de facto authorities in Gaza must refrain from carrying out any executions of prisoners and comply with the de facto moratorium on executions put in place by the Palestinian Authority, pending abolition of the death penalty in line with the global trend,” it said.

Hamas carried out the execution of three persons convicted of murder without approval from the president, who is supposed to sign the ruling before it could be carried out.

M.S.