Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and central Gaza on April 25 cast their ballot in municipal elections for the first time since Israel launched its war on Gaza, reports Middle East Eye.Figures published by Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission show that approximately 1.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and 70,000 people in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah area are registered to vote.
The vote, however, has a narrow field of candidates, with most aligned with the Fatah Party and independent candidates. There are no lists associated with Hamas, which controls half of the Gaza Strip. The other half of the besieged enclave is under Israeli military occupation.
In most cities, Fatah-linked candidates are running against independent candidates affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.Some candidates, however, have said they have been prevented from participating in the electoral process.
Mohammed Dweikat from Nablus in the West Bank reportedly said that the Palestinian Authority has detained some candidates until the end of the registration period.Over the years, the PA has been accused of corruption, stagnation and declining legitimacy. Western and regional donors have increasingly tied financial and diplomatic support for the PA to visible reform, particularly in local governance.
Gaza, under Hamas control since 2007, is seeing its first vote since legislative elections in 2006 that the movement won.