Palestinians in Deir al-Balah cast ballots on Saturday in the first election held in any part of Gaza in more than 20 years. It was a municipal vote for a local council, not a national poll, but it carried weight far beyond the 15 seats contested.

Why it matters: The Palestinian Authority has not held presidential or legislative elections since 2006. Any democratic exercise in Gaza tests whether governance beyond Hamas is possible, and whether Palestinians will participate after two decades of democratic absence.

The results

In Deir al-Balah, just 15,890 of roughly 70,000 registered voters cast ballots, a turnout of 22.7%. The Nahdat Deir al-Balah list, backed by Fatah and the secular nationalist movement that dominates the Palestinian Authority, won six of the 15 seats. A rival list called Deir al-Balah Brings Us Together took two seats. The remaining seats went to two independent local groups.

Across the West Bank, participation was stronger. Some 522,000 people voted across 183 municipalities, a turnout of 53.4% broadly consistent with previous local elections. Fatah-aligned and independent candidates dominated.

Why turnout was so low in Gaza

Deir al-Balah was the only Gaza locality included in the election. Residents have endured years of conflict, blockade and governance dysfunction. No Hamas-affiliated candidates appeared on the ballot, removing a major political force from the process.

Analysts noted that many Gazans view municipal elections as irrelevant when the fundamental questions of who governs, who provides security and who rebuilds remain unanswered.

What both sides say

Palestinian Authority officials described the vote as a step toward long-delayed national elections. President Mahmoud Abbas has framed local elections as building blocks for democratic renewal.

Sceptics argue that holding a vote in one Gaza city while excluding Hamas does not constitute democratic progress. They note that Abbas himself has not stood for re-election in 21 years and that the municipal councils being elected have limited power and resources.

What happens next

The Palestinian Authority has signalled that the local elections could pave the way for legislative and presidential polls, though no dates have been set. The newly elected councils in the West Bank and Deir al-Balah are tasked with overseeing water, roads and electricity, basic services that shape daily life regardless of the larger political questions.