Abbas loyalists sweep Palestinian elections, including some seats in Gaza

Palestinian municipal elections saw loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas win most races, including some seats in Gaza for the first time in nearly two decades. The vote, held on Saturday, was the first election of any kind in Gaza since 2006 and the first Palestinian polls since the conflict began in October 2023. A symbolic "pilot" election in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, aimed to demonstrate Gaza's integration into a future Palestinian state. Hamas, which governs Gaza, did not formally nominate candidates there and boycotted the West Bank vote. While Abbas's Fatah-backed list secured six seats in Deir el-Balah, a list seen as aligned with Hamas won two seats, with other Gaza-based groups taking the remaining seats. Voter turnout in Gaza was reportedly low due to the ongoing impact of the conflict.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and a single area in central Gaza, Deir al-Balah, participated in local elections on Saturday. This marks the first election of any kind in Gaza since 2006. Hamas was barred from participating, and several other factions boycotted the vote due to a requirement to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Fatah, the dominant faction in the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, is participating. Over a million voters were eligible, with 70,000 in Deir al-Balah. Results are anticipated on Saturday night or Sunday. Despite Hamas not being on the ballot, some candidates in Deir al-Balah were reportedly aligned with the group, which continues to operate in Gaza and was involved in security around polling stations.

Palestinians in Gaza's Deir el-Balah and the occupied West Bank are participating in municipal elections, the first local polls held in Gaza in two decades and the first in the West Bank since the 2023 war. In Gaza, approximately 70,000 voters are casting ballots in Deir el-Balah, an area described by officials as a "pilot" due to its relative lack of destruction. Meanwhile, nearly one million voters in the West Bank are electing local council members. These elections, organized by the Palestinian Authority, aim to project reform and legitimacy amidst public disillusionment and a restricted political landscape. Official policy in occupied areas remains subject to Israeli approval. Hamas and other parties are not officially participating.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are expressing skepticism about the upcoming local elections on April 25th, the first in nearly five years. Many voters and outgoing officials, like Qusra mayor Hani Odeh, believe the elections will not significantly alter their difficult realities. These challenges include limited resources, ongoing settler attacks, and restrictions imposed by the Israeli military, such as the closure of village entrances. The Palestinian Authority (PA) faces further constraints due to Israel withholding tax revenues, impacting the salaries of civil servants. Despite a large number of candidates and a significant youth electorate, a prevailing sentiment is that these municipal elections will not bring about meaningful change.

Palestinians are participating in local elections on April 25, 2026, to elect representatives for municipal and village councils. These elections, the only electoral mechanism available after years of postponed national votes, are taking place across the occupied West Bank, with limited voting in Gaza. While offering a form of political participation, the elections occur within the constraints of Israeli occupation, which dictates many aspects of Palestinian life. The article highlights that these elections demonstrate Palestinians asserting their survival through existing structures, despite the absence of national sovereignty and democratic renewal. The fractured political and geographic landscape is evident in the uneven scope of voting.

Residents of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip are