Palestinians voted Saturday in their first local elections in over two decades, with the Palestinian Authority hoping the vote will strengthen its claim to govern Gaza, from which it
was ousted by Hamas in 2007.
Polling across the West Bank and a limited part of Gaza marks the first elections on Palestinian territories since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. The last Palestinian local elections on the West Bank were held in 2022.
In Gaza, only residents of the central Deir al-Balah area — more than 70,000 people — were eligible to vote, as extensive war damage prevented polling elsewhere.
More than half of Gaza remains under Israeli control, the rest under Hamas. Voting there ran from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., two hours shorter than on the West Bank, due to power supply constraints.
Hamas did not formally field candidates, but one list in Deir al-Balah is widely seen by residents and analysts as linked to the group — making results a potential gauge of its popularity. The group said it would respect the outcome and deploy civil police to protect polling stations. Most other candidates ran under Fatah or as independents.
Western diplomats cited by Reuters said the vote could pave the way for the first general elections in roughly two decades and accelerate Palestinian Authority reforms to improve transparency and accountability.
European and Arab governments broadly support the PA's eventual return to Gaza and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Israel opposes Palestinian statehood; Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowed authorities would "continue to suppress that idea".
Some Palestinian factions boycotted the vote, objecting to a PA requirement that candidates endorse the Oslo Accords, which include recognition of Israel. Results were expected Saturday evening or Sunday. Photo by Jaber Jehad Badwan (1994–), Wikimedia. commons.