Residents of Gaza are preparing for the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for November 28, marking the first national vote since 2006. The elections will take place across the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, and Gaza, with an estimated 1.24 million eligible voters in Gaza alone.
Young and older Palestinians alike are expressing concerns centered on economic hardship and personal security. Ahmad Mohsen, a 24-year-old nursing graduate unable to pursue his profession, currently works selling internet access cards while seeking employment that provides stable income and adequate compensation. His priorities for candidates include addressing joblessness, security, housing, education, and healthcare. The enclave faces an unemployment rate of approximately 80 percent, with the economy severely damaged by years of Israeli blockade and military operations that have resulted in significant loss of life.
Older residents carry similar but more deeply personal concerns. Ghassan Marwan, 53, recalls voting in the 2006 elections and describes that experience as transparent and fair. However, the subsequent two decades have brought disappointment rather than improvement. He lost his home and business during the war, forcing him to perform manual tasks like hauling water over long distances despite his age and decades of prior stable employment. Such circumstances have affected broader public engagement with politics, as people focus on immediate survival needs rather than political discourse.
Elections officials acknowledge significant logistical hurdles. The Palestinian Central Elections Commission’s regional director noted that destruction across Gaza and mass displacement create substantial challenges for holding the vote. The commission has developed contingency plans to produce election materials locally should Israel restrict supply imports.
Political analysts suggest that the war has not diminished Palestinian political interest but has fundamentally altered expectations. Rather than seeking administrative competence or ideological alignment, voters now demand leadership capable of reconstruction, infrastructure restoration, and creating conditions for economic recovery and livelihood restoration. The priority focus remains on leaders who can address Gaza’s recovery and help residents rebuild their lives.
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