In a significant political event on Saturday, Palestinians participated in local elections, marking the first time in 20 years that voters in Gaza were included. This election serves as a critical measure of the political climate amid Israel’s ongoing efforts to undermine prospects for a future Palestinian state.

The Palestinian Authority, operating from the West Bank, expressed hopes that the inclusion of Gaza’s Deir al-Balah city would bolster its claim to governance over the area, which it lost to Hamas in 2007.

For many residents of Gaza, who face daily struggles within their war-torn enclave, the elections offered a rare moment of political engagement. “As a Palestinian and resident of Gaza, I am proud that the democratic process is making a comeback after this war,” said Mamdouh al-Bhaisi, 52, as he cast his vote in Deir al-Balah.

Despite the historic nature of the vote, turnout in Gaza was notably low, with only 22.7 percent of eligible voters participating, compared to 53.44 percent in the West Bank, according to official reports. Vote counting commenced immediately, with results anticipated later on Sunday.

Low turnout in Gaza amid humanitarian crisis

Hani Al-Masri, a political analyst based in the West Bank, suggested that the low voter turnout in Gaza reflects the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the region. He noted that for many, survival takes precedence over engaging in political activities.

Hani Al-Masri, a political analyst in the West Bank, said the low turnout in Gaza showed the ongoing humanitarian crisis meant voting was not a priority and that people were focused on survival rather than political processes.

In the West Bank, the turnout also reflected the impact of a boycott by some factions, Masri said.

Casting his ballot in a polling station in the Al-Bireh area, near Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that eventually elections would be held across the Gaza Strip when conditions allow.

“Gaza is an inseparable part of the state of Palestine. Therefore, we have worked by all means to ensure that elections take place in Deir al-Balah to affirm the unity of the two parts of the country together,” he said.

During the morning, a steady trickle of voters could be seen heading to polling stations in the West Bank, while foreign diplomats observed the process.

“We will elect someone who can improve the local community … things like water and repairing the streets,” said Manar Salman, an English teacher in Jericho.

“We don’t receive much support from outside, and the occupation affects us in many ways… it limits what the municipality can do.”

Some questioned the timing of the vote.

“We didn’t want elections at this time — not with war in Gaza and ongoing settler attacks in the West Bank,” said Ziad Hassan, a businessman from the village of Dura Al-Qaraa.

Settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have surged since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.

“The main thing is security from settlers. That’s why we need new faces, young people willing to fight for our rights,” said Abed Jabaieh, 68, former mayor of Ramun village.

Israel extends control over Gaza and West Bank

Since a US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel took effect in October, intermittent talks led by the United States have made little progress towards a settlement that envisages international supervision of Gaza.

European and Arab governments broadly support an eventual return of Palestinian Authority governance in Gaza, together with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It would comprise Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule under Israeli occupation.

Western diplomats have said the local elections could be a step towards the first national elections in nearly two decades and advance reforms to increase transparency and accountability that the Palestinian Authority says are underway.

“We hope that the procedure carried out today will be crowned with legislative and presidential elections,” said Munif Treish, one of the candidates in the West Bank.

Saturday’s vote is the first of any kind in Gaza since 2006 and the first Palestinian elections to be held since the Gaza war started more than two years ago. Municipal elections were last held in the West Bank four years ago.

Struggle to pay wages as Israel withholds funds

The Palestinian Authority has struggled to pay wages as Israel withholds tax revenues it collects on its behalf, raising fears of economic collapse. Israel justifies withholding the funds in protest at welfare payments to prisoners and families of those killed by its forces, which it says incentivise attacks.

The Israeli government has also taken steps to help settlers acquire West Bank land. Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has repeatedly said: “We will continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state.”

In Deir al-Balah, which has suffered less damage from Israel’s assault since 2023 than other Gazan cities, banners bearing candidate lists hung from buildings.

The Palestinian election committee cited widespread destruction among the reasons voting could not be held across the rest of Gaza, more than half of which is controlled by Israel, with the rest under Hamas rule.

Some Palestinian factions boycotted the elections in protest at the Palestinian Authority’s request that candidates back its agreements, which include recognition of the state of Israel.

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades, did not formally nominate any candidates but one list in the Deir al-Balah election was viewed by residents and analysts as being aligned with it.

Analysts say the performance of candidates linked to the militant group could be a gauge of its popularity. Most candidates, including in the West Bank, are running under Fatah, the main political movement behind the PA, or as independents.

Hamas has said it would respect the results. Palestinian sources told Reuters ahead of the vote that the group’s civil policemen had been deployed to safeguard polling stations in Gaza.

The Palestinian Central Elections Committee said more than a million Palestinians, including 70,000 in Gaza, are eligible to vote.

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