GAZA CITY, April 4, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Gearing up for the second phase of municipal elections in Gaza Strip in early May, candidates from the resistance movement Hamas are using more creative methods in their campaigns.

Hamas runners are using projectors and giant screens in the streets to show documentaries and campaign reports and features introducing their programs to the public in the different towns and villages of the Strip.

“The media committee has prepared a documentary detailing the electoral program of candidates and a brief profile on each candidate,” Abdul Naser Awwad, the campaign director for Hamas's “Change and Reform” slate in Al-Shouka and Al-Nasr towns, told IslamOnline.net on Monday, April 4.

“This has been having a great effect on the people,” he added.

Awwad said the slate was taking the lead in introducing creative methods for election campaigning.

Hamas has scored a resounding victory in the first stage of the municipal local elections in Gaza Strip, held last January, securing 65% of the ballot, translated into 77 out of the 110 seats up for grasp.

“The idea (of employing creative methods) has been there for quite a long time, with the aim of raising the awareness of the public on a number of local and national issues,” Abu Moaz, one of the leaders of Hamas's public services body, explained.

“The movement is keen on bridging gaps between the people and candidates. That's why we are using these screens as a means of campaigning,” he said.

The Hamas activist said the movement resorted to these creative methods over the lacking of other well-established means of correspondence with the people such as satellite channels or ground TV stations.

He said Hamas people first prepare CDs with the campaigning materials and then inform the public with the timing of the show through fliers, street signs, loud speakers and mosques.

Shows are usually presented at public squares with high density, where great numbers of people attend, added Abu Moaz.

Several other Palestinian groups have recently started to follow in the footsteps of Hamas in this regard, showing documentaries about resistance operations, according to IOL correspondent in Gaza.

Palestinians, meanwhile, attributed the move to what they termed political maturity on the part of Hamas.

“Resorting to projectors in election campaigning demonstrates a developed progressive thinking and political maturity on the part of Hamas. This is free cinema and people like interesting ideas,” Mohamed Abdul A'l, 40, told IOL.

“We respect those who speak to our minds and look for the right means to promote their ideas. We are keen on attending these shows to know who will serve the people,” Hussain Atiyah, 35, weighed in.

Thursday, March 31, was the last day for candidates to register for the May elections.

Hamas has announced on Saturday, March 12, that it would also vie in the general legislative election, scheduled for July 17, for the first time.