23 March 2017•Update: 23 March 2017
GAZA CITY, Palestine
The Gaza Strip's Administrative Court on Thursday overturned an earlier decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to establish a Palestinian Supreme Constitutional Court.
"We hereby overturn the decision to establish a constitutional court and annul all the decision’s ramifications," a statement issued by the administrative court read.
“Our decision is based on the fact that President Abbas’ four-year [presidential] term expired in 2009," it added. “In light of this fact, Abbas lacks the legal authority to issue such a decision."
The statement went on to assert: "With this ruling, any judgment that is issued -- or will be issued -- by the proposed constitutional court will not be legally binding.”
The Palestinian Authority, of which Abbas serves as chairman, has yet to respond to the Gaza court’s move.
Abbas caused a stir in April of last year when he abruptly announced a decision to establish a Palestinian constitutional court.
Hamas, for its part, opposed the decision, saying the court would be dominated by members of Abbas' Fatah movement -- with which Hamas has been at odds since 2007.
Hamas also criticized the Palestinian president for issuing "unilateral" decisions without consulting other Palestinian political factions.
In 2014, Gaza-based Hamas and the West Bank-based Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement that called for the formation of a Palestinian unity government that would oversee legislative and presidential polls.
Although the unity government was unveiled two months later, it has yet to take on a governing role in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, while relations between the rival movements remain beset by differences.
Reporting by Mohamed Majid; Writing by Ali Abo Rezeg
