Palestinian Local Elections Spark Fresh Rifts Between Long-Standing Rivals Hamas and Fatah

Palestinian supporters of Fatah rally in support of president Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, on July 10, 2021. Abbas Momani/AFP via Getty Images

Fresh rifts were reignited on Dec. 11 between long-standing rivals Hamas and Fatah during the first round of the Palestinian local elections.

The elections, which include municipal councils and local government bodies, are typically held every four or five years and last took place in 2017.