Gaza Holds First Election in 21 Years

Gaza City Prepares for Historic Municipal Election

Residents of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza city will cast their ballots on Saturday in the territory’s first municipal election in over two decades. The election marks a significant departure from the policy of administrative appointments that has governed the Strip under Hamas leadership for the past 21 years.

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) views the vote as a pivotal milestone, with approximately 70,000 eligible voters aged 18 and above set to participate between 7am and 5pm. The CEC has launched a toll-free hotline to verify registration status and ensure a smooth process.

Voting will take place at 12 electoral centers, each equipped with eight polling stations. Residents will select from lists of candidates, with the 15 candidates receiving the most support forming the new local council. Formal political parties are not participating in this election, instead, candidates are grouped into tribal or professional alliances.

Four nominally independent lists of candidates are competing for council seats: Peace and Construction, Deir el-Balah Brings Us Together, Future of Deir el-Balah, and Renaissance of Deir el-Balah. Candidates have emphasized the importance of service-oriented platforms, transparency, and avoiding partisanship.

Residents express a desire for tangible solutions rather than political slogans. Rabha al-Bhaisi stated that citizens are looking for real-world improvements in basic services such as clean water, electricity, and sewage management. Ali Rayan noted that holding elections alone may not be enough if they do not translate into tangible change on the ground.

The CEC’s regional director, Jamil al-Khalidi, has confirmed that the election is part of a broader process, including 420 local councils in the occupied West Bank. The outcome of this election will be closely watched by residents and observers alike.

Source: Al Jazeera