Holding municipal elections in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip is an “important step,” a Hamas spokesman told Anadolu on Saturday.
Hazem Qassem’s remarks came as voting for local elections in the occupied West Bank and Deir al-Balah began earlier in the day.
“Holding elections in the city of Deir al-Balah is an important step, and we hope that appropriate conditions will be provided to hold them in all governorates and municipalities of the Gaza Strip,” Qassem said.
"We also hope that conditions will be created to hold comprehensive elections," he said, calling for “reorganizing the Palestinian house and holding legislative and presidential elections.”
Saturday’s voting marks the first time in 22 years that municipal elections are taking place in Deir al-Balah, relatively one of the least damaged cities in the enclave during Israel’s two years of genocidal war.
Qassem appreciated the efforts of authorities in Gaza to complete the electoral process, saying: “Our instructions were clear on the need to ensure the success of this process, and that it takes place under suitable conditions so that the Palestinian citizens can express their opinion through the ballot box.”
Palestinian factions, including Hamas, held meetings with various parties “to ensure a suitable political and field environment,” he added.
Regarding the situation on the ground, Qassem said Israel “committed a major massacre against the people of the Gaza Strip in continuation of the war of extermination,” arguing that this is “evidence that the war has not stopped.”
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 17 Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling and gunfire over the past 48 hours, including 13 in the last 24 hours, despite an ongoing ceasefire.
Qassem said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “seeking by all means, through this escalation of killing, to sabotage US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.”
He called on the international community to develop a “real plan” to support municipalities in Gaza after the “massive destruction and devastation affecting people, buildings, and infrastructure.”
On Sept. 29, 2025, Trump announced a plan to end the Israeli war on Gaza, including a ceasefire, partial withdrawal, release of remaining Israeli captives, and the entry of aid trucks.
While Hamas adhered to its commitments under the first phase by releasing Israeli prisoners, Israel did not fully comply with its obligations and continued attacks, killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians.
The second phase includes broader Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction, and the beginning of disarmament of factions, which has not yet been implemented.
The ceasefire followed nearly two years of war that began in October 2023, resulting in extensive damage to infrastructure across the enclave.
*Writing by Serdar Dincel
