“Gaza's Deir al-Balah Holds Municipal Elections: A Test of Hamas's Popularity” — what this page in the network covers. Palestinians in Deir al-Balah, one of the only Gaza cities that was not overrun by Israeli ground forces during the recent conflict, are set to participate in municipal elections this weekend. This vote is particularly significant as it will feature candidates supported by Hamas, offering a rare opportunity to gauge the militant group's current popularity among the local populace.
These elections in Deir al-Balah are part of broader Palestinian Authority municipal elections. Palestinians view this electoral process as a crucial display of national unity, particularly in defiance of a proposed US plan for Gaza which they believe aims to further entrench the separation between Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.