Egypt will send a delegation to the Gaza Strip and West Bank on Sunday to supervise the Palestinian legislative elections due on Jan. 25, the official MENA newsagency reported Saturday.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said in a statement that sending the delegation is under the request of the Palestinian higher electoral commission.

Describing the Palestinian elections as an additional step towards democracy, Abul-Gheit expressed hope that the electoral process will be carried out peacefully and the Palestinians' choices will be respected.

The minister also hoped that the Palestinian and Israeli sides would return to the negotiating table after the Palestinian general elections were concluded.

Palestinians are scheduled to vote in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem on Jan. 25 to choose a new 132-seat parliament.

Some analysts predicted that Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, is likely to score a big victory at the expense of the ruling Fatah.