As Palestinians hold municipal elections across territories, PA claims important victories

Local elections sponsored by the Palestinian Authority (PA) were recently held in Judea and Samaria – internationally known as the West Bank – as well as in parts of the Gaza Strip. 

According to the Palestinian news agency Safa, voter turnout in the Palestinian areas of Judea and Samaria was around 53%, while in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, it was 21.2%. 

The elections in Deir al-Balah were the first since Hamas won the popular vote in the 2006 elections, which followed the Israeli Disengagement from Gaza in 2005. Shortly after the 2006 election, Hamas and Fatah fought a brutal civil war for control of Gaza, with Hamas winning. That led to the establishment of the Hamas government and the start of regular conflict between Hamas and the IDF in Gaza. 

The elections were also the first in all of Judea and Samaria since the start of the Oct. 7 Gaza War. The PA said the inclusion of Deir al‑Balah, which suffered less damage than other Gaza municipalities, demonstrates the inseparable nature of Gaza to the Palestinian state. 

Sources close to the PA have reported that candidates affiliated with PA President Mahmoud Abbas won a majority of the seats in local elections, touting the result as a victory over Hamas, which boycotted elections in Judea and Samaria and did not run candidates in Deir al-Balah. 

Despite not running any candidates under the party’s own banner, a party called "Deir al-Balah Brings Us Together” was widely seen as affiliated with Hamas and won only two of 15 seats. Meanwhile, the Fatah-aligned (Fatah is the party of PA President Abbas) "Deir al-Balah Movement” won 6 six seats, with the remaining seats going to local parties not explicitly affiliated with either party. 

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa acknowledged a low voter turnout, which he said was due to elections being held “at a particularly sensitive moment, against a backdrop of complex challenges and exceptional circumstances.” He said Saturday’s elections represent “another step on the path to full independence.” 

Abbas echoed Mustafa’s language, saying the elections were “an important democratic achievement under difficult conditions.” 

According to Rami Hamdallah, chairman of Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission (CEC), the elections in Deir al-Balah represent “a significant achievement” in light of the circumstances. 

“Everyone is aware of the political, security and economic conditions, the fragmentation of Palestinian territory, the war on Gaza, and the regional conflict in Iran,” Hamdallah told a group of journalists after the elections. “Simply holding the elections in Deir al-Balah is a significant achievement, and we hope to hold elections in other bodies across the Gaza Strip in the near future.” 

Hamdallah expressed his hope that “presidential and legislative elections will follow.” The PA has not held presidential or legislative elections since its defeat by Hamas in 2006.