Israel Blocks Palestinian Election Committee Access to Gaza and Jerusalem

The Israeli government has refused to allow the Palestinian Central Elections Committee to enter the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem to oversee preparations for the legislative elections scheduled for November 28. This decision presents a direct obstacle to holding elections across all Palestinian territories on the planned date.

A Palestinian official told the official Palestinian news agency WAFA on Tuesday that the Israeli government rejected the committee's entry into Gaza and Jerusalem for election oversight. This refusal comes as the committee continues its technical preparations for the first Palestinian legislative elections since 2006, amidst existing concerns about potential delays due to Israeli impediments, internal political and security complexities, and the declining popularity of the Fatah movement.

The Israeli stance is particularly significant because the participation of Gaza and East Jerusalem is essential for comprehensive Palestinian elections. Palestinian assessments have previously warned that preventing the entry of electoral teams and equipment into Gaza or obstructing voting in Jerusalem could make holding the elections on time extremely difficult. This latest refusal is expected to bring the fate of the elections back to the forefront, especially after the 2021 elections were postponed due to disputes, particularly concerning their conduct in Jerusalem, which Israel prevented.

Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh discussed election preparations with Kaja Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission, on Tuesday. Al-Sheikh requested European support to overcome obstacles and ensure Palestinian participation in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza. Kallas affirmed the European Union's readiness to deploy an election observation mission and stressed the importance of "credible, inclusive, and transparent" elections.

According to a presidential decree, the legislative elections are set for November 28, with the Central Elections Committee continuing preparations in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Approximately 2.97 million Palestinians are eligible to vote, including 1.59 million in the West Bank, 1.24 million in Gaza, and about 140,000 Jerusalem ID holders.

Palestinian estimates in recent weeks have identified the Israeli position as a major obstacle, alongside the Palestinian division and disputes over list formations and factional participation. Analysts have warned that Israel might obstruct elections in Jerusalem or Gaza, or impose movement restrictions in the West Bank on election day, hindering a comprehensive electoral process. They also noted that the participation of Hamas and Islamic factions could face Israeli and American objections, while their exclusion or the inability to hold elections in Gaza would raise questions about the comprehensiveness and representation of the electoral process.

This Israeli obstruction occurs amid Palestinian efforts to reshape the electoral landscape. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and a movement led by the dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan agreed in late September to support a "unified national list," with attempts to include independent figures and other Palestinian forces. If held on schedule, these would be the first national elections since 2006, when Hamas won, leading to deepened Palestinian division and the inability to hold joint elections for the West Bank and Gaza since then. In 2021, legislative and presidential elections were announced for the first time in 15 years, but President Mahmoud Abbas postponed them in April of that year due to disputes centered on holding them in Jerusalem.