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Deir el-Balah Municipal Seat Distribution
Breakdown of seats won by different political factions in the recent Gaza municipal vote.
Primary Sources
Abbas loyalists sweep Palestinian elections, including some seats in Gaza
Voter turnout in Gaza remained low due to the ongoing impact of the genocide.Loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas won most races in Palestinian municipal elections, election officials said, in a vote that for the first time in nearly two decades included a city in the besieged Gaza Strip.The elections had been held “at a highly sensitive moment amid complex challenges and exceptional circumstances”, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa said as results were announced on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Elections without sovereignty: What Palestine’s local vote representslist 2 of 4West Bank scepticism as Palestinians doubt local elections will change muchlist 3 of 4Gaza area votes in first municipal election in 20 yearslist 4 of 4Palestinians cast their ballots as Gaza holds first election in 21 yearsend of listSaturday’s ballot marked the first elections of any kind in Gaza since 2006, and the first Palestinian polls since Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the territory began in October 2023.The vote in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah was a largely symbolic “pilot” election, Palestinian Authority officials said, intended to show that Gaza was an inseparable part of a future Palestinian state.Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, did not formally nominate candidates in Gaza and boycotted the race in the occupied West Bank, where Fatah’s victory was widely expected.But some candidates on one of the Deir el-Balah lists were widely seen by residents and analysts as aligned with the movement, making the vote a potential indicator of support for the group.Preliminary results showed that the list, known as Deir el‑Balah Brings Us Together, won only two of the 15 seats contested in Gaza.The Nahdat Deir el‑Balah list, backed by Abbas’s Fatah party and the Palestinian Authority, secured six seats. The remaining seats were won by two other Gaza-based groups, Future of Deir el‑Balah and Peace and Building, not affiliated with either faction.Abbas loyalists, meanwhile, swept the election in the West Bank, running unchallenged in many seats.Low voter turnout in GazaFatah spokesperson Abdul Fattah Dawla noted that turnout was close to that for the last municipal elections in the West Bank in 2022, praising voters for participating despite ongoing violence by Israel.In Gaza, voter turnout was 23 percent, while in the occupied West Bank, it was 56 percent, according to Chairman of the Central Elections Commission Rami Hamdallah.Som...
Abbas' loyalists win Palestine local elections, including in Gaza
Loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas won most races in Palestinian municipal elections, officials said on Sunday, in a vote that included a Gaza Strip city for the first time in nearly two decades. The ballot, held on Saturday, marked the first elections of any kind in Gaza since 2006 and the first Palestinian vote since the war in Gaza began more than two years ago following Hamas’ cross-border attack on southern Israel. The Palestinian Authority said the inclusion of the city of Deir al-Balah, which sustained less damage during the conflict than other parts of Gaza, was intended to demonstrate that the enclave remains part of a future Palestinian state. Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said the elections were held “at a highly sensitive moment amid complex challenges and exceptional circumstances”, but described them as “an important first step in a broader national process aimed at strengthening democratic life and ultimately achieving the unity of the homeland”. Hamas did not formally field candidates in Gaza and boycotted the vote in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Abbas’ Fatah movement was widely expected to dominate. However, some candidates in Deir al-Balah were seen as aligned with Hamas, making the outcome a potential indicator of support for the group. Preliminary results showed that a list associated with such candidates secured two of the 15 seats in Deir al-Balah. A list backed by Fatah won six seats, while the remaining positions were taken by two other local groups not affiliated with either faction. In the West Bank, candidates aligned with Abbas won overwhelmingly, in many cases running unopposed. Turnout remained low, particularly in Gaza where it reached 23 per cent, compared with 56 per cent in the West Bank, according to Central Elections Commission chairman Rami al-Hamdallah. He said logistical difficulties affected the process, with some ballot boxes and equipment delayed due to Israeli security restrictions, although voting ultimately proceeded. Analysts said the results suggested voters may be favouring candidates linked to Fatah in the hope of securing broader international support for local governance. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the outcome would not affect wider political dynamics, describing the elections as having no impact on national-level issues. Large parts of Gaza remain heavily damaged following the conflict, with many residents displaced and focused on basic needs, while Israeli strikes have c...
Palestinian leader's loyalists win local elections, including some in Gaza
Loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas won most races in Palestinian municipal elections, election officials said on Sunday, in a vote that for the first time in nearly two decades included a ...
Palestinian Leader's Loyalists Win Local Elections, including Some in Gaza
Loyalists of President Mahmoud Abbas won most races in Palestinian municipal elections, election officials said on Sunday, in a vote that for the first time in nearly two decades included a city in the Gaza Strip run by rival Hamas. Saturday's ballot marked the first elections of any kind in Gaza since 2006 and the first Palestinian polls since the Gaza war began more than two years ago with ...
