The inclusion of Deir al-Balah, a city that has remained relatively intact compared to the devastation elsewhere in the enclave, is a strategic masterstroke by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, while the official reason is to “affirm the unity,” the underlying political reality is that the Palestinian Authority is using local votes to oust Hamas. This proves to the international community that the PA remains the only legitimate partner for a future Palestinian state.
The Ballot as a Political Weapon
The PA is leveraging these local elections to create a “bottom-up” transition of power. European and Arab governments have signaled they will only support a post-war Gaza governed by the PA. By successfully running a polling station in Gaza, the PA is demonstrating operational readiness. Even though Hamas has not formally nominated candidates, analysts are closely watching the “independent” lists. The performance of Hamas-aligned candidates will serve as a proxy for the group’s current popularity after two years of brutal conflict.
The PA required all candidates to back its prior agreements, which include the recognition of the State of Israel, a requirement designed to box out Hamas hardliners.
A Fragile Turnout Amid Crisis
The attempt to reclaim authority comes at a time of extreme economic and physical hardship. By 1 p.m., turnout in Deir al-Balah was just 13.8%, hampered by electricity constraints and the general struggle for survival. In a strange twist of wartime necessity, Hamas civil policemen were deployed to safeguard the very polling stations intended to undermine their movement’s political monopoly. “Gaza is an inseparable part of the state of Palestine,” Abbas declared after casting his ballot near Ramallah, signaling that this one-city vote is merely the first step toward reclaiming the entire Strip.
The Israeli Obstacle
While the PA looks to the ballot box, the Israeli government remains a significant hurdle to its success.
Israel continues to withhold tax revenues from the PA, leading to a struggle to pay wages and raising the specter of total economic collapse.
Bezalel Smotrich has openly stated his intent to “kill the idea of a Palestinian state,” even as the PA tries to prove its statehood through democratic norms. Western diplomats see this move as the “baseline for reform.” If the PA can maintain transparency and accountability in this municipal vote, it may pave the way for long-overdue national legislative and presidential elections. Ultimately, the reason why the Palestinian Authority is using local votes to oust Hamas is to ensure that when the dust of the Iran-Israel war finally settles, Ramallah, not Gaza City, is the seat of Palestinian power.
