Gaza Holds First Municipal Election in 20 Years: Polls Open in Deir el-Balah

On April 25, 2026, polls opened in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza for the first Palestinian municipal election in Gaza in nearly 20 years — the first since Hamas won the 2006 legislative elections and seized control of the Strip in 2007. Approximately 70,000 eligible voters in Deir el-Balah participated alongside nearly one million West Bank voters in parallel municipal elections organized by the Palestinian Authority. Deir el-Balah was selected as the Gaza pilot location because it was relatively less damaged than other areas of the Strip. Most candidate slates were backed by Fatah or ran as independent lists. Hamas did not field candidates but issued a statement pledging non-interference: 'Hamas is not participating in this election and does not support any of the lists, but is fully ready to provide all the conditions for the success of this electoral event.' UN Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov called the vote 'an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights during an exceptionally challenging period.' The election is seen as a potential first step toward Palestinian Authority re-engagement in Gaza governance — a precondition for Phase Two of the Gaza ceasefire and international reconstruction funding — even as Phase Two negotiations remained deadlocked over Hamas disarmament as of the same date.