Palestine’s Election Body Says It Can Deliver First Gaza Vote In Nearly 20 Years

Palestine’s Central Election Commission says it is fully prepared to hold the first Palestinian Legislative Council elections in the Gaza Strip in almost 20 years. The vote is set for late November, even though officials admit the preparations face several logistical hurdles on the ground.

Palestine’s Central Election Commission says it is ready to hold the first Gaza parliamentary elections in nearly 20 years by late November. The announcement was made to RIA Novosti by Jamil al Khalidi, who heads the commission’s regional office in Gaza. He added that several technical challenges remain.

First Parliamentary Vote Since 2006 Was Ordered By Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree in July calling for parliamentary elections on November 28, 2026. These upcoming Gaza parliamentary elections will be the first since the 2006 vote, when Hamas won the majority of parliamentary seats.

Commission Says Its Staff Are Fully Prepared

Al Khalidi stressed that the election body already has the people in place for the job. He said:

“The Central Election Commission has experienced staff in the Gaza Strip who are fully ready to hold the elections on schedule at the end of November.”

He also noted that preparations for the vote are being accompanied by a number of logistical difficulties.

Ballot Boxes And Ink Remain A Challenge, But Fixes Exist

Running Gaza parliamentary elections in a war battered territory is no simple task. Al Khalidi explained some of the practical problems the commission is dealing with. He said:

“There are many obstacles related to ballot boxes and polling stations, as well as ink and ballot papers, but the CEC in the Gaza Strip has alternative solutions.”

Candidate Registration Is Already Underway

According to the Palestinian official, the nomination and registration of parliamentary candidates is currently taking place. Once that process wraps up, the official election campaign will begin. Al Khalidi added that the commission has so far received eight electoral lists carrying the names of candidates standing for parliament.