Palestinians Hold First Gaza Elections in 20 Years; 22.7% Turnout in Deir al-Balah as IDF Strikes During Vote

Palestinians held municipal elections on April 25, 2026 — the first elections in Gaza in nearly 20 years and the first Palestinian vote of any kind since the October 7, 2023 war began. Voting in Gaza was limited to Deir al-Balah (central Gaza), with 12 polling stations and approximately 70,000 eligible voters; turnout was 22.7% amid security concerns and displacement. West Bank turnout reached approximately 53.4%. Most candidates ran under Fatah or as independents; Hamas was formally excluded — candidates required to recognize Israel and support the two-state solution. Hamas permitted its civil police to guard polling stations and called the vote 'an important step.' Voting ended at 6 p.m. in Deir al-Balah due to electricity constraints and at 7 p.m. in the West Bank. Palestinian observers noted the limited scope of the exercise but welcomed the first expression of democratic participation in Gaza in two decades.