Fatah-supported candidates won most local councils in the West Bank and also made small gains in Gaza’s Deir el-Balah. However, voter turnout was low, showing widespread public disappointment and lack of trust in the process.
Loyalists of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have secured a sweeping victory in municipal elections held across the occupied West Bank and a pilot vote in central Gaza, marking the first local polls in nearly two decades to include a Gaza Strip city under Hamas administration.
Election officials announced on Sunday that Abbas-aligned lists, primarily from the Fatah movement, won the majority of seats, with many councils in the West Bank decided by consensus or running unchallenged. In the Gaza Strip, a Fatah-backed list triumphed in Deir el-Balah.
Symbolic elections in conflict-hit Gaza:
The inclusion of Deir el-Balah represents a rare political development since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The “Nahdat Deir el-Balah” list, supported by Fatah and the Palestinian Authority, secured six seats in the coastal city. Voter turnout in Gaza remained notably low at around 23 percent, attributed to the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli military campaign and widespread destruction.
Hamas did not formally field candidates, and the vote was framed by Palestinian officials as a limited pilot project aimed at testing the waters for broader political reconciliation.
Strong showing in the West Bank:
In the occupied West Bank, Abbas loyalists dominated, winning most races with a turnout of approximately 54 percent. Fatah claimed victories in major areas including Hebron, Jenin, Tulkarm, Salfit and Al-Bireh, describing the results as a public endorsement of its political programme despite the challenges of Israeli occupation and internal divisions.
President Mahmoud Abbas cast his ballot in Al-Bireh, expressing satisfaction with the democratic process even as the Palestinian territories remain fractured between the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza.
Low Turnout in Palestinian Elections:
The elections were held amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and rising tensions in the West Bank. Analysts say many results were influenced by clan deals and local agreements, with limited real competition, highlighting the dominance of the Palestinian Authority.
Fatah called the turnout a sign of resilience, while observers noted public fatigue and doubts about meaningful change due to the Gaza crisis and West Bank settlement expansion. Leaders say the vote could lead toward long-delayed national elections, but divisions and external pressures remain major obstacles.