Local Palestinian elections took place in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip over ...

Local Palestinian elections took place in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip over the last few days. In the Gaza Strip, only the Deir al-Balah Governorate in central Gaza took part in the elections, as it was the only region intact enough to do so. This meant only around 70,000 Gazan residents were eligible to vote, as it did not include displaced people from other regions. Of these residents, only 22.7% ended up voting. The Palestinian Authority required all candidates in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to abide by PLO requirements, which includes recognising Israel as an independent state. Those who did not do this weren't allowed to partake in the elections. A pro-Fatah (Palestinian Authority) party won in Deir Al-Balah Governorate, with 6 out of 15 seats. In the West Bank, Fatah won most seas, including in two governorates (Ramallah and Nablus), where councils were formed without any elections. Interestingly, despite Hamas not being allowed to partake in the elections, Fatah and Hamas held a rare meeting in Gaza to discuss their differences. Hamas also provided security for the polling stations in Deir Al-Balah with unarmed police officers.