The first Palestinian elections in Gaza in 20 years saw allies of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas outperforming affiliates of Hamas, as the Islamist group officially declined to participate. Experts say that the holding of the vote signals Abbas’ desire to extend the Palestinian Authority's mandate from the West Bank to war-torn Gaza without seeking serious political change. 

Mixed results 

Saturday's elections saw a voter turnout of 56% in the West Bank and 22.83% in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Central Election Commission. The turnout for the previous local elections in the West Bank in 2021 and 2022 was 53.69% in the second and final round, while Gaza has not had elections since Hamas seized power and ousted the Palestinian Authority there in 2007. Deir al-Balah was the only locale in Gaza to participate due to the fact that it has sustained less damage in the war between Israel and Hamas when compared with other regions in the north that have been carpet bombed by Israel. 

The Nahdat Deir al‑Balah list, backed by Abbas’ Fatah party, won six of the 15 available seats, while the Hamas-backed Deir al‑Balah Brings Us Together each won two. The unaffiliated Future of Deir al‑Balah and Peace and Building won five and two seats, respectively, according to the official results published by the commission.