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Fatah Wins West Bank Municipal Elections Amid Hamas Police Presence

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Armed Hamas police forces surrounded polling stations during the West Bank municipal elections despite Hamas's exclusion from the ballot.
Fatah announced a majority win, forming 197 municipal and village councils in the 2026 local elections.
The Central Elections Commission said voter turnout was about 53.44 percent.
Observers noted single-list submissions that produced automatic wins, prompting critics like Marwan Ennabi to call the process chaotic and non-transparent.

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Story summary

Armed Hamas police forces surrounded polling stations during the West Bank municipal elections despite Hamas's exclusion from the ballot.
Fatah announced a majority win, forming 197 municipal and village councils in the 2026 local elections.
The Central Elections Commission said voter turnout was about 53.44 percent.
Observers noted single-list submissions that produced automatic wins, prompting critics like Marwan Ennabi to call the process chaotic and non-transparent.