Supporters of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have won the Palestinian municipal elections, including in some districts of the Gaza Strip, reports Todayinfo news agency.
According to the election commission, candidates linked to Abbas won in most districts. These elections were the first in the last twenty years to involve localities in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa said the vote took place "at a very delicate moment, amid serious challenges and exceptional circumstances." The vote was held on Saturday and was the first election at any level in Gaza since 2006 and the first since the start of Israel's military operation in October 2023.
The election in Deir al-Balah was largely symbolic and "pilot" in nature, and according to the authorities, was meant to emphasize that Gaza will remain part of a future Palestinian state. The Hamas movement, which has controlled the sector since 2007, did not field candidates in Gaza and boycotted the elections in the West Bank, where Fatah was expected to win.
However, some candidates from one of the lists in Deir al-Balah were perceived as close to Hamas, adding extra significance to the results. According to preliminary results, the list "Deir al-Balah unites us" won 2 out of 15 seats. The list "Nahdat Deir al-Balah," supported by Fatah and the Palestinian Authority, won 6 seats. The remaining mandates were distributed among the independent groups "Future of Deir al-Balah" and "Peace and Construction."
On the West Bank, Abbas's supporters also won a convincing victory, in many districts without serious competition. Fatah representative Abdel Fattah Dawla noted that the turnout there was comparable to the 2022 municipal elections and thanked voters for participating despite the tense situation.
According to Central Election Commission Chairman Rami Hamdallah, turnout in Gaza was about 23%, while on the West Bank it was 56%. At the same time, some ballot boxes and equipment were not delivered to the sector due to import restrictions.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khudari reported that supply restrictions remain in place, and low turnout is explained by harsh conditions: outdated population registers, mass displacement, and many people focused on survival. Military operations have severely damaged Gaza's infrastructure, and strikes continue despite the declared ceasefire.
Nevertheless, some residents came to polling stations. One of them, Ashraf Abu Dan, told the Associated Press that he voted because he considers it his right and hopes for improvement in municipal services.
