In the Arab kingdom of Jordan, voters took to the polls on Tuesday for a parliamentary election, with the spotlight on pressing domestic issues, particularly high unemployment. Although the Muslim Brotherhood has campaigned on opposition to the Gaza war, analysts believe it won't be the decisive factor in this election.

The elections were held under a new system introduced in 2022, aimed at increasing democratization and the role of political parties, while minimizing the influence of tribes in national politics. Candidates for the 138 seats of the lower house were allowed to run under national parties, rather than as individuals.

The turnout for the elections, as reported by the state news agency, stood at approximately 31 percent. The polls closed at 7 p.m. local time, and the results are expected overnight or early on Wednesday.

The political arm of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, which had previously boycotted elections, seized the opportunity to rally support by campaigning against the Gaza war. They also called for an end to cooperation between Jordan and Israel on security matters and emphasized the need for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Jordan, with a significant population of Palestinian origin and hosting the largest proportion of Palestinian exiles anywhere, has drawn attention to the lingering conflict in Gaza. The Muslim Brotherhood has amplified their election campaign by exploiting the concept of resistance and framing their opponents as proponents of normalization with Israel.

Amer Al Sabaileh, a regional security expert and university professor based in Amman, noted, "Gaza has provided the Muslim Brotherhood an opportunity to galvanize their election campaign and slogans. They leverage the war on Gaza to their advantage, even suggesting that not voting for them equates to supporting normalization with Israel."

While the Gaza conflict may have captured the attention of some voters, the pressing concerns over unemployment and socio-economic issues are expected to play a more significant role in this parliamentary election. As Jordanians await the announcement of the election results, the nation's focus remains on shaping a prosperous future through the democratic expression of their priorities and concerns.