Following several meetings held in Cairo in order to advance the reconciliation efforts between Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah, the process of updating the electoral rolls kicked off on Monday, Feb. 12, in both Gaza and the West Bank.

While the registration voter records have been consistently updated on an annual basis in the Palestinian Authority-controlled West Bank, it was the first time since 2007, the year when the Islamist party Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, that the Central Election Commission (CEC) operated in Gaza.

“Registration centers,” according to the CEC, “witnessed an unprecedented registration turnout, especially in Gaza Strip. The CEC deployed mobile registration teams to universities and schools to register youth.” As of Feb. 19, 422,000 Palestinians have participated in the voter registration process, of which 90,000 are in the West Bank and 332,000 in the Gaza Strip. The lowest registration turnout was in Hebron with only 66% of eligible registrants.

The voter registration update, many believe, including PA president Mahmoud Abbas, is a “critical precursor” that Palestinians are edging closer towards unity. They’re inclined to believe the opportunity has finally come their way whereby this step will be followed by more positive steps to further reconciliation, which will finally bring about an end to their frustrations.