Loyalists of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas secured the majority of seats in municipal elections held on Saturday, marking the first time in nearly two decades that a city in the Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, participated in Palestinian polls. The elections included the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, which was less affected by recent conflict compared to other parts of the coastal territory.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), based in the West Bank, stated that including Deir al-Balah was intended to affirm Gaza’s integral role in any future Palestinian state. The elections represent the first polling activity in Gaza since 2006 and the first held since the Gaza war began over two years ago following a Hamas cross-border attack on southern Israel. Despite the inclusion of Gaza, voter turnout was low, with 23 percent participation in the enclave compared to 56 percent in the West Bank, according to Rami Al-Hamdallah, chairman of the Central Elections Commission.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa described the vote as occurring “at a highly sensitive moment amid complex challenges and exceptional circumstances” but emphasized it as “an important first step in a broader national process aimed at strengthening democratic life and ultimately achieving the unity of the homeland.”
Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007 after ousting the PA, did not officially nominate candidates in Deir al-Balah and boycotted the elections in the West Bank, where Fatah was largely unchallenged. However, some candidates on a list known as Deir al-Balah Brings Us Together were widely perceived by local residents and analysts as affiliated with Hamas. This list won two of the 15 contested seats in Gaza. The Nahdat Deir al-Balah list, aligned with Fatah and the PA, secured six seats, while the remaining seats were won by two other Gaza-based groups not officially connected to either faction.
In the West Bank, Abbas loyalists, primarily Fatah candidates, dominated the elections, often running without opposition. Fatah spokesperson Abdul Fattah Dawla praised voter participation despite ongoing violence in the region and highlighted that turnout was comparable to the previous municipal elections held in 2022. Palestinian political analyst Reham Ouda suggested that voters selecting Fatah-affiliated candidates may be seeking broader international support for municipal governance and a political shift extending beyond local administration.
The elections faced logistical challenges, including Israeli security restrictions that delayed the delivery of some ballot boxes and voting equipment into Gaza. Nonetheless, election officials managed to overcome these hurdles to proceed with the vote.
The recent conflict has left large parts of Gaza devastated, displacing many residents who remain focused on immediate survival. Despite an October ceasefire, Israeli strikes have continued intermittently. The municipal elections, therefore, took place amid ongoing political tensions and security concerns, reflecting the complex and divided political landscape between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.