Ask Onix
Local elections held in West Bank and Gaza
Palestinians voted on Saturday in municipal elections across the occupied West Bank and in Deir al-Balah, the first poll of any kind in Gaza since 2006, according to the Central Elections Commission based in Ramallah.
Key restrictions and boycotts
Hamas, which governs Gaza, was barred from participating, and several factions boycotted the vote over a requirement that candidates recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of Palestinians. The PLO, dominated by President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, controls parts of the West Bank not under direct Israeli rule.
Gaza's fragile participation
Deir al-Balah, a central Gaza city less damaged than others during the Israel-Hamas war, was the only area in the territory where voting took place. Around 70,000 of the more than one million eligible voters in the Palestinian territories cast ballots there, with 12 polling stations operating under a fragile ceasefire established last October as part of a U.S.-brokered peace plan.
While Hamas was not officially on the ballot, Reuters reported that one candidate slate in Deir al-Balah was widely perceived as aligned with the group. Hamas police were involved in securing polling stations, reflecting the group's continued influence in Gaza despite Israeli withdrawals from some areas.
Public sentiment and political divisions
Hamas's popularity has waned in Gaza following the war, which many residents blame on the group's October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that triggered a devastating Israeli military response. However, support for Hamas has grown in the West Bank, where frustration with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah runs deep. The PA is widely criticized as corrupt, ineffective, and unable to improve living conditions or end Israel's decades-long occupation.
With Fatah as the only major faction on the ballot, its victory in some districts is all but assured due to the lack of opposition candidates. The elections underscore the persistent divide between Hamas and Fatah, which has controlled Gaza and the West Bank separately since 2007.
Election law sparks controversy
The vote was narrowed after several factions objected to an election law requiring candidates to pledge recognition of the PLO and its political program. The law stipulates that candidates must accept the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" and adhere to its decisions under international law.
The PA, dominated by the PLO, has formally claimed governance over Gaza despite exercising no real control there. Hamas and other factions oppose the PLO, particularly over its recognition of Israel.
Reactions from voters and officials
In Deir al-Balah, voter Mohammed al-Hasayna told AFP the election symbolized a "will to live" amid the devastation of war. "We want the world to help us overcome this catastrophe. Enough wars-it's time to rebuild Gaza," he said.
"The elections represent an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights during an exceptionally challenging period."
Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
In the West Bank city of Tulkarem, businessman Mahmud Bader expressed skepticism about the vote's impact. "The [Israeli] occupation controls Tulkarem. This is just an image for the international media-pretending we have elections, a state, or independence," he told AFP.
Historical context
The last local elections in the West Bank were held in 2022, while Gaza's last poll of any kind occurred two decades ago. Hamas won the 2006 legislative elections, escalating tensions with Fatah and leading to violent clashes. The following year, Hamas forcibly took control of Gaza, solidifying the political split between the territory and the West Bank.
