Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah casting his vote in local elections at his hometown, Anabta, Tulkarm district, (WAFA photo/Maan Khalifa)

RAMALLAH, May 13, 2017 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah cast his vote in the local elections on Saturday in his hometown of Anabta, in the governorate of Tulkarm the West Bank.

Hamdallah greeted the Palestinian hunger-striking prisoners in Israeli jails, whose hunger strike entered its 27th day.

He hoped that Hamas’ new leadership will respond to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ call to form a national unity government.

Hamdallah called on Palestinian citizens to go to the polling stations and cast their vote, thanking the security  services for their efforts to keep the elections process secure.

“Today, we send a message to the international community that our people deserve an independent state like the rest of the world,” he said.

K.T./M.K.