A man casts his ballot in Al-Ubaidiya, West Bank, as Palestinians voted in local elections — the first in parts of Gaza in more than two decades and the first in the occupied West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began.
Palestinian officials on Sunday described the votes held Saturday in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and across the West Bank as successful and as a step toward resuming long-delayed national polls and advancing aspirations for statehood. The Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the West Bank but was left out of a U.S.-backed ceasefire framework for Gaza, called the Gaza vote a largely symbolic pilot meant to politically reconnect the two territories.
Deir al-Balah — which, like much of Gaza, has been devastated by two years of war but was spared a major Israeli ground incursion — held its first election in more than 20 years. Voter turnout there was low, about 23%, with officials citing massive displacement and outdated civil registry lists as key obstacles. Hamas, which controls the portion of Gaza Israel withdrew from under the current ceasefire, did not run candidates and did not attempt to block the balloting.
In the West Bank turnout was roughly 56%, with more than half a million people voting, a rate similar to recent local elections there. Many contests were uncontested, and candidates had to endorse the program of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which leads the PA. That program includes recognition of Israel and a renunciation of armed struggle, effectively excluding Hamas and other armed factions from participation.
Independent candidates and Fatah, the dominant faction in the PA, won most races. Rami Hamdallah, chair of the Central Election Commission and a former prime minister, called holding the vote in Deir al-Balah a ‘‘significant achievement’’ and said officials hope to expand voting to other Gaza municipalities soon. He added that the election reflects national unity and expressed the desire that presidential and legislative elections follow.
The balloting was for local councils that manage water, roads and electricity. These were the first elections held after reforms aimed at satisfying international demands: voting is now for individual candidates rather than closed party lists. With confidence in political parties low, family and clan ties played a larger role in campaigning.
Despite official optimism, the PA has not held a presidential election in 21 years. Mahmoud Abbas, now 90, was elected in 2005 to a four-year term; presidential and legislative votes have not been held since 2006. Support for the PA and for Abbas has declined amid allegations of corruption and frustration over continued expansion and occasional violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa described the local elections as ‘‘another step on the path to full independence.’’ Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opposes the creation of a Palestinian state.
Many Palestinians say municipal ballots are welcome but insufficient. ‘‘Municipal elections are an important step, but they are not enough. We want general elections,’’ wrote prominent Palestinian-American businessman Bashar Masri on social media.