Palestinians head to polls today, April 25, 2026, for the first elections in 20 years, covering municipal votes across the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza's Deir el-Balah district. Nearly 1.5 million voters in the West Bank and 70,000 in Deir el-Balah are registered, marking a cautious return to ballots since Hamas won the last legislative polls in 2006. Polling stations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the West Bank and until 5 p.m. in Gaza due to electricity shortages.

Most electoral lists align with President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party or run as independents, with no Hamas-affiliated candidates participating. Abbas, 90 and unelected since 2005, frames this as a step toward broader democracy, promising Fatah's conference and National Council elections later in 2026 ahead of general polls. The UN coordinator praised the "credible process" as a key democratic exercise amid post-war challenges.

Deir el-Balah serves as a test for Gaza, under Hamas control since 2007, with 12 polling centers including tents for displaced residents. Only original registrants vote, excluding many refugees sheltering there. Observers from civil society and media monitor the process, which Abbas's decree ties to PLO commitments.

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This limited vote revives electoral hopes after decades of division between Fatah-led West Bank and Hamas-ruled Gaza. Political scientist Jamal al-Fadi called it an "experiment" for Abbas's authority without post-war polls. Security remains tight amid ongoing Israeli strikes despite ceasefire efforts.The elections signal fragile progress toward Abbas's 2026 democracy pledge, though full national polls face hurdles like Jerusalem access and factional rifts. Voter turnout will gauge public faith in the Palestinian Authority during crisis.

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