Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. across the occupied West Bank, including in Al-Bireh near Ramallah, for municipal elections considered one of the last remaining spaces for civic participation. Nearly 1.5 million voters were registered, according to the Central Elections Commission. The election aims to renew local councils responsible for essential services such as water, sanitation, and infrastructure, in a context marked by the Israeli occupation and severe movement restrictions. In the Gaza Strip, voter turnout remains very low. Only Deir el-Balah is participating, with approximately 70,449 registered voters, far fewer than the roughly 930,000 recorded in 2021. This decline is attributed to population displacement, the extent of destruction, and disruptions to civil registries. Major cities such as Gaza City and Khan Younis are not participating in the election. Authorities postponed voting in the rest of the territory due to the security situation, power outages, and limited administrative resources. This election is largely symbolic since the postponement of the national elections in 2021, although many doubt its concrete impact in the face of economic hardship and unemployment. Most of the lists are linked to Fatah or local independents, while Hamas is not officially participating. In some cities, such as Nablus, only one list is running, reflecting a degree of political weariness. Polling stations are scheduled to close at 7 p.m. in the occupied West Bank, and earlier in Gaza due to power shortages.
