The elections mark a significant step in Palestinian political life, but they are overshadowed by the exclusion of Hamas, the Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007. Hamas was not allowed to stand in the election, according to multiple reports. The election law required candidates to commit to recognising the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, a condition that led several factions to boycott the vote. Fatah, the party led by President Mahmoud Abbas, dominates the PLO and was ousted from Gaza by Hamas after the 2006 elections. As a result, Fatah is the only major faction on the ballot and is guaranteed victory in some districts due to lack of opposition. No candidates on the lists are affiliated with Hamas, and voters mostly find politicians aligned with Fatah on the ballots.
Deir al-Balah, a town in central Gaza, is the sole location in the Gaza Strip where voting is taking place. According to Reuters, one slate of candidates in Deir al-Balah is widely seen as aligned with Hamas, even though no official Hamas candidates are standing. The town was chosen for the election because it was not as badly damaged as other places during the war, according to multiple reports. Hamas continues to operate in parts of Gaza where Israeli forces have withdrawn, and its police force was involved in security around polling stations, Reuters reported. The election in Gaza is largely symbolic and seen as a test for future elections, while the West Bank vote covers local councils overseeing water, roads, and electricity.
The idea is to connect the West Bank and Gaza politically under one system.
Voting began at 07:00 local time and polls close at 19:00 local time, with 12 polling stations scheduled to operate in Deir al-Balah. Results are expected late on Saturday or on Sunday. The elections are for 90 municipal councils and 93 village councils, but results will be decided without a poll in 42 municipal councils and 155 village councils where only one faction is standing. Fareed Taamallah, spokesperson for the election commission, said in a press conference: "The idea is to connect the West Bank and Gaza politically under one system."
The elections take place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire that is part of President Trump's 20-point peace plan, which halted fighting in October last year. The ceasefire has held but remains tenuous, and the outcome of the elections could affect its stability. The Trump peace plan, which has been met with skepticism by Palestinians, aims to resolve the long-standing conflict, but its implementation has been slow.
Several uncertainties surround the elections. Voter turnout in Deir al-Balah and across the West Bank remains unknown, and it is unclear whether the results will be accepted by all factions, including Hamas. The boycott by several factions raises questions about the legitimacy of the process. There is also uncertainty about how the outcome will affect the fragile ceasefire and Trump's peace plan. Additionally, the specific conditions that led to the boycott have not been fully detailed, and it is not known if there have been any reports of irregularities or security incidents during voting. The number of eligible voters is also disputed: the Central Elections Commission says more than 1 million voters are eligible, while AFP reports that over 1.5 million people are registered to vote. This discrepancy may reflect different definitions of eligible versus registered voters, affecting the perceived scale of the election.