Palestinian Authority & Gaza Strip

Over 90% of Gaza City’s 385,000 eligible voters register to vote as Fatah, Hamas reaffirm commitment to holding first parliamentary, presidential elections since 2006.

First Palestinian parliamentary elections set for May 22 but parties are still in disagreement over electoral basics such as how ballot stations will be guarded and how courts will adjudicate election disputes.

Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar warns Israel that if it tries interfering in the upcoming PA parliamentary and Hamas primaries, it will "destroy" the Knesset election scheduled for March 23.

Medical personnel treating coronavirus patients or working in intensive care units are the first to be immunized. Palestinian Health Ministry says it expects delivery of 5,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine and 37,000 doses from the COVAX global vaccine-sharing program.

The Gaza-based terrorist group is still undecided whether to vie for the PA presidency in a separate election slated for July 31, Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds reports. 

A video posted to the Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Information and Culture praises Black September commander Ali Hassan Salameh’s "long arm" and "high intelligence."

The elections, the first in 15 years, are seen as an important step toward ending the Palestinians since Hamas usurped control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority in a military coup in 2007.

Parliamentary elections are to be held on May 22, followed by a presidential vote on July 31. A December poll found that 52% of Palestinians think elections held under present conditions would not be fair and free.