Gaza holds 1st municipal elections in 20 yrs, limited to Deir al-Balah

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Gaza holds 1st municipal elections in 20 yrs, limited to Deir al-Balah

2026-04-26 14:13 Last Updated At：15:17

Thousands of Palestinians voted Saturday in the first municipal elections held in Gaza in 20 years, though the process was limited to the city of Deir al-Balah in the central part of the enclave, alongside local elections across the West Bank.

Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (0400 GMT), with voting continuing until 17:00 in Deir al-Balah and until 19:00 in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission.

The commission said some 1.3 million voters are eligible across the Palestinian territories, including around 70,000 in Deir al-Balah.

According to the commission, the elections cover 183 local bodies in the Palestinian territories. In total, 321 electoral lists comprising 3,773 candidates are competing for municipal seats, alongside 1,358 candidates for village councils.

In Deir al-Balah, four electoral lists are competing, each with 15 candidates including at least four women.

"We are pleased today to open polling stations in Deir al-Balah to elect a municipal council for the city. This step comes alongside elections in the West Bank," said Jameel al-Khaldi, regional director of the Central Elections Commission.

The vote took place under challenging living conditions, with ongoing displacement and limited basic services affecting daily life.

"We hope to live a better and more dignified life than what we have now. There is no education, no healthcare, not even food. We've lost even basic comfort. We want to live safely again, for our children to return to school, and for the elderly to have access to medicine," said Ataf al-Buhaisi, a Palestinian voter.

Voters and candidates hope these elections mark the beginning of a broader political process that could lead to wider national votes and help improve living conditions and services in the Gaza Strip.

"Today is a joyful democratic moment for the people, especially as it coincides with elections in the West Bank. It shows that Palestinians are one people seeking freedom," said Faten Harb, a local elections candidate.

It is the first time local elections have been held in Gaza since 2006, before Hamas took control of the enclave in 2007. Multiple rounds of conflict and political divisions have since prevented such votes.

Displaced Palestinians in Gaza forced to shelter in destroyed buildings

Displaced people in Gaza face perilous living conditions as they huddle inside destroyed buildings that serve as both shelter and risk.

These buildings, partially destroyed due to Israeli strikes, are no longer fit for habitation, yet remain the only option for those who have lost everything.

Aml Masoud, a displaced Palestinian, returned to her home in western Gaza City after the ceasefire, only to find it severely damaged and on the verge of collapse. Having nowhere else to go, she secured sheets to the edge of the crumbling wall, forming a makeshift refuge.

"We have no space to pitch a tent, so we were forced to live between these walls. But this house is extremely dangerous. We live in fear and panic. The cracks are getting worse over time, and we cannot repair anything because the house is leaning, as you can see," said Masoud.

In the absence of safe alternatives, humanitarian pressure and lack of shelter options are forcing families to take the risk of staying in unsafe homes.

"We are scared. This wall might fall on us at any moment while we are talking. Nothing here is safe, everything is destroyed, the walls and pillars are all damaged. Look at these columns; most of them are destroyed. We are afraid it could collapse on us suddenly. Last time, we ran away at midnight in terror because the house was shaking as if it was about to fall," said Fouad Moqatt, another displaced Palestinian.

Gaza has recently witnessed a rise in fatalities caused by collapsing buildings, reaching 25 victims, including women and children. The escalating humanitarian disaster is this time not caused by direct airstrikes, but by their aftermath.

"The Civil Defense's capacity to deal with these unstable buildings is almost nonexistent due to lack of resources. We are talking about more than 1,200 buildings in Gaza that must be demolished immediately with our equipment to prevent danger to civilians," said Mahmod Basal, spokesperson of Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza.

The United Nations and European Union issued a joint warning on April 20 that human development across Gaza has been set back by a staggering 77 years, with 71.4 billion U.S. dollars needed over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction.