Armed police patrolled rooftops of polling centres on Wednesday as activists waving the green flags of Islamist party Hamas and the yellow banners of rival Fatah mingled with Palestinian voters in the impoverished Gaza Strip.
Separate queues for men and women snaked out of classrooms of schools being used as polling centres in Gaza City for the first Palestinian general election in a decade, watched closely by dozens of partisans from different factions who continued to campaign despite an official ban.
“We want things to improve,” said the elderly Abu Mohammed, leaning on a wooden cane. “I support Hamas. Why would I vote for Fatah? They live in ivory towers and leave the people with nothing. Everyone must have those riches.”
The powerful Hamas, running on a Chance and Reform ticket, has sought to cash in on disillusionment with Fatah over the stalled peace process, corruption and by claiming its fighters forced Israel to pull out of the Gaza Strip last summer after a 38-year occupation.
“I’m voting for Change and Reform, because we need change, there are security problems, economic problems, unemployment and corruption,” said Zaid Bsesu, a 43-year-old trader.
Despite a generally relaxed atmosphere, there was nervousness at a polling station in the Shatti refugee camp, one of the poorest parts of the city, where voters trooped out to cast their ballots for what they hope will be a better future.
“Of course we are afraid,” said a woman observer working for the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. “There are lots of armed groups in the street, that’s the main concern.”
At the Karmel School, Hamas and Fatah supporters welcomed voters by handing out election material and lists of which candidates to plump for, flouting the ban on campaigning in force since Tuesday.
“This isn’t campaigning,” said one Hamas supporter Ahmed. “Anyway, Fatah are doing it too.”
Inside the school, an EU observer refused to comment. “But you can see for yourself,” the official added.
Local police said they were confident of guarding against violence that all too frequently plagues the city.
“I’m not worried about there being any problems today,” said policeman Mohammed Bayuk, on duty since the early hours in a rigorous security operation.
Gaza is seen as an Islamist stronghold and female election officials accompanied veiled women into voting booths to check their identity against their photograph. One elderly man complained there was nowhere to sit and wait.
Independent and party observers monitored the process, although hitches left some voters looking in vain for their names on lists posted in the schoolyard.
“Maybe it’s in another polling station,” said 75-year-old Abdullah Mohammed Abu Asira, unable to find his name.
Just down the street from the polling centre, Hamas supporters asked people who they voted for, writing down their names — women and men separately.
“We just want to know which Hamas members didn’t vote so that we can go to their house and bring them here,” said one of the men, refusing to give his name.
Shopkeepers were open as usual, glued to the radio for news on the election, the second Palestinian ballot in a year after a presidential poll last January but the first parliamentary vote in a decade.
“Today is important because the Palestinian people need their independence, they need to establish their own state and achieve peace with Israel,” said a white-bearded man who gave his name as Eid, 70.
Fatah supporters Naim Ismail Dawal and his wife Sadia came early to avoid the crowds, still faithful to the ruling party despite its reputation for corruption and convinced it can negotiate with Israel.
“We want this to be a democratic election, to prove to the world that the Palestinian people are democratic people,” he said with a smile. – AFP