Palestinians vote in local elections for the first time in two decades; Hamas does not nominate candidates amid Gaza war.

Palestinians are participating in local elections for the first time since the Gaza war began in October 2023, with eligibility exceeding one million voters. The elections are crucial for reinforcing authority over the region, despite Hamas's absence in the nominations.

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Sources: BBCReutersThe Guardian
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza cast their votes on Saturday, marking the first local elections in 20 years amid the Gaza war. This election includes over 70,000 voters in Deir al-Balah, where makeshift polling stations have been set up.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict further complicates the political landscape, with Hamas refraining from nominating candidates, as it has ruled Gaza since 2007. The Palestinian election committee emphasized voting's importance in showing resilience, despite ongoing violence, as demonstrated by Mohammed al-Hasayna's comment about the election as a sign of people's “will to live.”

Only the central city of Deir al-Balah held elections in Gaza while widespread destruction led to the suspension of voting in other areas. The Palestinian Central Elections Committee stated that 1 million Palestinians were eligible to vote. This vote is crucial for the Palestinian Authority's legitimacy as many lists were aligned with President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party or featured independent candidates.

Hamas's absence underscores existing political tensions, with recent conflicts further influencing voter sentiment and turnout. For many, like Adham Al-Bardini, participating in these elections carries significant personal and national importance, representing hope and change.
Sources: Reuters
Palestinians participated in local elections for the first time in two decades, casting ballots in Deir al-Balah amid the ongoing Gaza war. Hamas, which has governed Gaza for nearly 20 years, did not nominate candidates, while over one million eligible voters took part in the historic vote.
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The Headline

Palestinians vote in historic local elections

Key Facts
  • Palestinians were voting in local elections on Saturday that include Gaza for the first time in two decadesReuters
  • Voting began at 07:00 local time and polls closed at 19:00 local timeBBC
  • Today’s vote is the first Palestinian election to be held since the Gaza war began in October 2023The Guardian
  • Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades, has not formally nominated any candidatesReuters
  • Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the central area of Gaza are casting ballots today for local elections in the first vote since the Gaza warThe Guardian
  • Most of the electoral lists are aligned with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party or feature candidates running as independentsThe Guardian
  • There are no lists affiliated with Hamas, which controls nearly half of the Gaza StripThe Guardian
  • The Palestinian Central Elections Committee said more than one million Palestinians, including 70,000 in Gaza, are eligible to voteReuters
  • The Palestinian election committee cited widespread destruction among the reasons voting could not be held across the rest of GazaReuters
  • Local elections have not been held in the West Bank since 2022, and the last poll in Gaza was two decades agoBBC
  • Mohammed al-Hasayna stated the election served as a sign of people's "will to live" after voting in Deir al-BalahBBC
  • Adham Al-Bardini stated: "I've been hearing about elections since I was born" welcoming the opportunity to voteReuters
  • The symbolic inclusion of the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah will help reinforce the Palestinian Authority's claim to authority over the war-torn territory, from where it was ousted by Hamas in 2007Reuters

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Background Context

Context of the ongoing elections

Key Facts
  • These are the first Palestinian elections to be held since the Gaza war started more than two years agoReuters
  • Hamas was not allowed to stand in the elections, and several other factions boycotted due to a requirement to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO)BBC
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