Governance Gaza City

said al-shawa, first mayor of gaza

today, gaza serves administrative capital of gaza governorate. contains palestinian legislative council building, headquarters of of palestinian authority ministries.

the first municipal council of gaza formed in 1893 under chairmanship of ali khalil shawa. modern mayorship, however, began in 1906 son said al-shawa, appointed mayor ottoman authorities. al-shawa oversaw construction of gaza s first hospital, several new mosques , schools, restoration of great mosque, , introduction of modern plow city. in 1922, british colonial secretary winston churchill requested gaza develop own constitution under mandatory palestine. however, rejected palestinians.

on july 24, 1994, pna proclaimed gaza first city council in palestinian territories. 2005 palestinian municipal elections not held in gaza, nor in khan yunis or rafah. instead, fatah party officials selected smaller cities, towns, , villages hold elections, assuming fare better in less urban areas. rival hamas party, however, won majority of seats in 7 of ten municipalities selected first round voter turnout being around 80%. 2007 saw violent clashes between 2 parties left on 100 dead, resulting in hamas taking on city.

normally, palestinian municipalities populations on 20,000 , serve administrative centers have municipal councils consisting of fifteen members, including mayor. current municipal council of gaza, however, consists of fourteen members, including mayor, rafiq makki. makki resigned in november 2013, kept on interim mayor until april 2014. replaced deputy mayor nizar hijazi.