Gazans, who are struggling to meet their basic needs in the devastated enclave, welcome the opportunity to vote
A Palestinian woman votes during the municipal election at a polling station in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. PHOTO: REUTERS
Palestinians voted in local elections on Saturday that, for the first time in two decades, include Gaza and will gauge the political mood as Israel’s government seeks to destroy any future for a Palestinian state.
The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) hopes the symbolic inclusion of the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah will reinforce its claim to authority over the territory from which it was ousted by Hamas in 2007.
Gazans, who are struggling to meet their basic needs in the devastated enclave, welcomed the opportunity to vote.
“As a Palestinian and a son of the Gaza Strip, I feel proud that after this war the democratic process is returning,” said voter Mamdouh al-Bhaisi, 52, at the Deir al-Balah polling station.
Israel has extended control over Gaza and West Bank
Since a US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel took effect in October, intermittent talks led by the United States have made little progress towards a settlement that envisages international supervision of Gaza.
European and Arab governments broadly support an eventual return of PA governance in Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state comprising Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, where the PA exercises limited self-rule under Israeli occupation.
Read: In Gaza, first local vote in years offers gauge of Hamas popularity
Western diplomats say local elections could be a step towards the first national elections in nearly two decades and advance reforms to increase transparency and accountability that the PA says are underway.
“We hope that the procedure carried out today will be crowned with legislative and presidential elections,” said Munif Treish, one of the candidates in the West Bank.
They are the first Palestinian elections to be held since the Gaza conflict began more than two years ago, with the cross-border Hamas assault on southern Israeli communities. Municipal elections were last held in the West Bank four years ago.
The PA has struggled to pay wages as Israel withholds tax revenues it collects on its behalf, raising fears of economic collapse. Israel justifies withholding the funds in protest at welfare payments to prisoners and families of those killed by its forces, which it says incentivise attacks.
The Israeli government has also taken steps to help settlers acquire West Bank land. Ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has repeatedly said: “We will continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state.”
In Deir al-Balah, which has suffered less damage from Israel’s assault since 2023 than other Gazan cities, banners bearing candidate lists hang from buildings. Some voting took place in tents and the process will end two hours early due to electricity constraints.
Read more: Hezbollah defiant in face of ceasefire extension
The Palestinian election committee cited widespread destruction among the reasons voting could not be held across the rest of Gaza, more than half of which is controlled by Israel, with the rest under Hamas rule.
“This is a message to the world that here, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are one geographical unit,” said Jamil al-Khalidi, the regional director for the election committee in Deir al-Balah.
Hamas boycotts vote but some candidates are aligned
Some Palestinian factions are boycotting the elections in protest at the PA’s request that candidates back its agreements, which include recognition of the state of Israel.
Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades, has not formally nominated any candidates, but one list in the Deir al-Balah election is widely viewed by residents and analysts as aligned with it.
Analysts say the performance of candidates linked to the group could gauge its popularity. Most candidates, including in the West Bank, are running under Fatah, the main political movement behind the PA, or as independents.
Hamas has said it would respect the results. Palestinian sources told Reuters ahead of the vote that the group’s civil policemen would be deployed to safeguard polling stations in Gaza.
The Palestinian Central Elections Committee said more than one million Palestinians, including 70,000 in Gaza, are eligible to vote, with results expected late on Saturday or on Sunday.
