JERUSALEM, 25 December 2004 — The Hamas movement made a surprisingly strong showing in local Palestinian elections, according to preliminary results yesterday, signaling a drop in popularity for the ruling Fatah movement ahead of next month’s key presidential poll.

Elections for local councils were held in 26 communities on Thursday, with some 150,000 eligible voters choosing from among more than 800 candidates. Sixteen percent of the 360 local council seats were reserved for women.

According to preliminary results, Fatah won a majority of council seats in 14 towns, while Hamas, participating for the first time in Palestinian elections, took control in nine communities.

In two towns, a joint Hamas-Fatah slate won, indicating that the rivalry was at times blunted by local issues and clan loyalties.

The outcome of the vote in one community, Yabed, was not immediately available.

“This is an outstanding result for Hamas,” said Palestinian analyst, Ali Jerbawi, a former head of the Palestinian Election Commission.

“The 26 localities were selected from the beginning according to strongholds of Fatah. So the results should have been more for Fatah than Hamas.”

A Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the result was a reflection of strong support for the group.

Still, Abu Zuhri suggested that Hamas was ready to forge coalitions with Fatah. “The coming stage is one of development and rebuilding our society, and we will cooperate with everyone to strengthen our society.”

Hamas is boycotting the Palestinian presidential elections on Jan. 9, but its strong showing in the municipal poll could indicate faltering support for interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, the presidential front-runner.

“Abu Mazen won’t have an overwhelming majority,” Jerbawi said. “I think he will win with 55 or 58 percent.”

Jerbawi doubted that the weak Fatah showing in the municipal elections would have any effect on fledgling Israeli-Palestinian peace moves, despite Hamas’ strong opposition to them and its continuing calls for Israel’s destruction.

There has been a general muting of partisan rhetoric on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide since the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Nov. 11. Israeli and Palestinian leaders have raised the possibility of improved relations after the Palestinian presidential election.

Thursday’s vote was the first in Palestinian municipalities since 1976. Polling stations were jammed throughout the day, with high voter turnout reported.

There were no reports of violence or serious irregularities.

Meanwhile, in continuing violence at least five Palestinians were killed yesterday morning in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, security sources and media reports said.

Three Palestinians were killed in an exchange of gunfire with Israeli troops in Tulkarm in the West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. Security sources said a special Israeli Army unit ambushed the three Palestinians in Tulkarm refugee camp.

The three were later identified as members of Fatah’s military wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, aged 17, 18 and 20.

A hospital official said the three were brought in dead. The army left the area following this incident.

Also early yesterday, in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, two members of Hamas were killed in a bomb blast while preparing an explosive device.

Israeli Radio said nine other people were injured in the bomb blast, which occurred where Israeli troops have been operating in a bid to halt mortar and rocket attacks.

— With input from agencies