Loyalists of the Palestinian leader secure victories in local elections, gaining several seats in Gaza
Loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas secured victories in the majority of races during the Palestinian municipal elections, according to election officials on Sunday. This election marked the first time in nearly two decades that a city in the Gaza Strip, governed by the rival Hamas, participated.
Saturday’s ballot represented the initial elections of any sort in Gaza since 2006 and the first Palestinian polls since the onset of the Gaza war over two years ago, triggered by Hamas’ cross-border assault on southern Israel.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Abbas and based in the West Bank, stated that the inclusion of Deir al-Balah, a Gaza city that experienced less destruction compared to other regions during the conflict, was meant to demonstrate that Gaza is an integral component of a future Palestinian state.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa remarked that the elections, characterized by low voter turnout, took place “at a highly sensitive moment amid complex challenges and exceptional circumstances,” as the results were revealed on Sunday.
He stated that they represented “an important first step in a broader national process aimed at strengthening democratic life … and ultimately achieving the unity of the homeland.”
POTENTIAL SIGN OF HAMAS BACKING
Hamas, having removed the PA from Gaza in 2007, did not officially nominate candidates in Gaza and chose to boycott the election in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Fatah’s victory was anticipated.
However, certain candidates on one of the Deir al-Balah lists were perceived by residents and analysts as being affiliated with the movement, suggesting that the vote could serve as a potential gauge of support for the Islamist group.
Initial findings indicated that the list, referred to as Deir al-Balah Brings Us Together, secured just two out of the 15 seats available in Gaza.
The Nahdat Deir al-Balah list, supported by Abbas’ Fatah party and the Western-backed PA, obtained six seats. Two other Gaza-based groups, Future of Deir al-Balah and Peace and Building, secured the remaining seats, and they are not affiliated with either faction.
Abbas loyalists dominated the election in the West Bank, competing unopposed in numerous seats.
Fatah spokesperson Abdul Fattah Dawla highlighted that voter turnout was nearly on par with the last municipal elections in the West Bank, held in 2022, commending the electorate for their participation amid ongoing violence from Israel. “By choosing candidates associated with Fatah, voters seem to be aiming for unimpeded international backing for municipal governance and a gradual political transition that may reach beyond the local sphere,” remarked Palestinian political analyst Reham Ouda.
The recent conflict has left much of Gaza in ruins, with numerous residents displaced and concentrating on their survival. Israel has persisted in carrying out strikes despite the ceasefire established in October.
According to Rami al-Hamdallah, Chairman of the Central Elections Commission, voter turnout in Gaza was only 23%, whereas in the West Bank it stood at 56%.
Al-Hamdallah stated that certain ballot boxes and voting equipment were unable to enter the enclave due to Israeli security restrictions; however, those challenges were ultimately addressed.
Hamas’ Gaza spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, minimized the importance of the election results, stating that they had no effect on broader national matters.
