Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and parts of Gaza went to the polls on Saturday for local elections, marking the first vote of any kind in Gaza since 2006. The elections, overseen by the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission, are open to over a million eligible voters across the Palestinian territories, including 70,000 in Deir al-Balah, the only Gaza city where polling stations operate.
In the West Bank, voters cast ballots in multiple municipalities, while in Gaza, voting is confined to Deir al-Balah due to damage from the Israel-Hamas war. A fragile ceasefire, part of President Trump's peace plan, has been in place since October 2023.
Hamas, which governs Gaza but was not allowed to participate, is widely seen as aligned with a slate of candidates in Deir al-Balah. Several factions boycotted the elections over a requirement that candidates recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of Palestinians. Fatah, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, dominates the PLO and the Palestinian Authority (PA), which controls parts of the West Bank.
The elections underscore the deep divide between Hamas and Fatah, which has persisted since Hamas won the 2006 legislative elections and violently ousted Fatah from Gaza in 2007. Fatah is the only major faction on the ballot across the territories, guaranteeing victory in some districts where no opposition candidates are running.
Voter sentiment varies. In Deir al-Balah, Mohammed al-Hasayna expressed hope, saying, "We want the world to help us overcome the catastrophe of war. Enough wars - it is time to work towards rebuilding Gaza." However, in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, businessman Mahmud Bader voiced skepticism: "The occupation is the one that rules Tulkarem. It would only be an image shown to the international media - as if we have elections, a state or independence."
Hamas's popularity has fallen in Gaza due to the war, which some residents blame on its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Conversely, its popularity has surged in the West Bank, where many Palestinians view the PA as corrupt and ineffective. The UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, described the elections as "an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights during an exceptionally challenging period."
Results are expected late Saturday or Sunday.