GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip on Thursday transferred basic data from the Palestinian civil registry to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission in preparation for elections.

A statement on the ministry's website said the step was part of necessary procedures for renewing the registry and facilitation the work of the elections commission as well as reconciliation.

In July 2012, Hamas suspended the CEC's work a day before it was due to begin registering voters in Gaza, citing the continued arrest of Hamas members in the West Bank and its questions over the commission's impartiality.

The roll has not been updated in Gaza since Jan. 2005.

In January commission chief Hanna Nasser met with Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh.