Historic Local Elections Successfully Held in the Palestinian Territories

Sat Apr 25 2026 12:36:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza cast their votes on Saturday, marking the first local elections in Gaza since 2006, amid a backdrop of political tension and historical significance.

On Saturday, Palestinians voted in local elections spanning the occupied West Bank and Deir al-Balah in Gaza, the latter being the only area in the territory hosting elections due to security considerations post-conflict. These elections are notable as it is the first time Gaza has seen polling since 2006, yet the absence of Hamas candidates due to electoral regulations and boycotts from several factions highlight ongoing political tensions. Approximately a million voters were eligible, and results are expected by Sunday. President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party is set to dominate, as opposition candidates declined to participate due to constraints imposed on candidates regarding their stance towards the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Palestinians are voting in local elections on Saturday, including the first poll of any kind to be held in Gaza since 2006.

Elections are taking place across the occupied West Bank, as well as in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza where Hamas operates.

Hamas was not allowed to stand in the election, and several other factions have boycotted it over a requirement that candidates commit to recognizing the authority of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which dominates the Palestinian Authority (PA) governing in parts of the occupied West Bank not under Israeli control.

Fatah, the faction led by President Mahmoud Abbas and which dominates the PLO, was violently ousted from Gaza by Hamas in the aftermath of the last elections there.

While Hamas was not on the ballot in Deir al-Balah, Reuters news agency reported that one slate of candidates was widely seen as being aligned with it.

The central city was chosen as the sole Gaza area where elections would take place as it was not as badly damaged as other places during the Israel-Hamas war. A fragile ceasefire is in place as part of President Trump's 20-point peace plan, which halted the fighting in October last year.

Hamas continues to operate in parts of Gaza where Israeli forces have withdrawn from, and Reuters reported that its police force was involved in security operations around polling stations.

More than a million voters across the Palestinian territories are eligible to take part, according to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission, including 70,000 in Deir al-Balah, where 12 polling stations were scheduled to operate.

Voting began at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and polls close at 19:00 local time. The results are expected late on Saturday or on Sunday.

Fatah is the only major faction on the ballot across the Palestinian territories and is guaranteed victory in some districts because no opposition candidates are running.

The elections encompass 90 municipal councils and 93 village councils, but in some areas, the results will be dictated without a poll due to the singular presence of Fatah candidates.

Local elections have not been held in the West Bank since 2022, while the last poll of any kind in Gaza was two decades ago, highlighting a significant political divide within the Palestinian governance structure.

Earlier this week, the United Nations deputy special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process remarked that the elections “represent an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights during an exceptionally challenging period.”