Palestinians in the West Bank and the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah participated in municipal elections for the first time since 2006, marking the first vote since a ceasefire took effect in Israel's war against Gaza that began in October 2023. Approximately 70,000 eligible voters in Deir el-Balah cast ballots in temporary fibreglass tents erected on open land, as most buildings were damaged or destroyed during the war and schools now shelter displaced people. Israeli authorities prevented essential electoral materials including ballot boxes and ink from entering Gaza, forcing organizers to manufacture boxes locally and substitute WHO vaccination ink. Hamas did not participate in the elections, while voters like 43-year-old Salama Badwan and his 18-year-old daughter Dunia expressed preferences for non-factional candidates and youth-led lists capable of securing international donor support.
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