Palestinians cast vote in first elections since Gaza war

Palestinians cast vote in first elections since Gaza war
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Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the central Gaza area of Deir al-Balah went to the polls on Saturday in municipal elections, marking the first vote since the Gaza war, Arab News reported.

According to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission, nearly 1.5 million registered voters are eligible in the West Bank, while around 70,000 are registered in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time.

Turnout occurred under difficult conditions, particularly in the northern West Bank, where some refugee camps have been under Israeli military control for over a year. Many residents expressed skepticism about the impact of the vote.

Polling in the West Bank is scheduled to close at 7 p.m., while voting in Deir al-Balah ends earlier to allow counting in daylight amid Gaza’s damaged infrastructure and limited electricity.

The elections are being administered by the Central Elections Commission in Ramallah, with UN coordination official Ramiz Alakbarov describing the process as a “credible” opportunity for democratic participation during a difficult period.

Gaza, which has been under Hamas control since 2007, is holding its first vote since the 2006 legislative elections. Analysts note that the limited vote in Deir al-Balah appears partly experimental, as Palestinian Authority President Abbas—now 90 and in office for more than two decades without reelection—has repeatedly postponed broader national elections.