Overview
- Preliminary counts after Saturday’s municipal vote show Fatah-supported candidates ahead across the West Bank and performing strongly in Deir al-Balah in Gaza, with final results still pending certification.
- Palestine’s Central Elections Commission reported about 522,000 voters and said turnout reached 56% in the West Bank and 23% in Deir al-Balah after tallying roughly 95% of ballots.
- Early figures for Deir al-Balah differ by source, with one report citing six seats for a Fatah-aligned list and another saying two Palestinian Authority–affiliated lists hold eight of the 15 council seats, leaving seven to opposition lists.
- Hamas did not field an official slate, and several outlets said candidates viewed as close to Hamas won only two seats in Deir al-Balah, pointing to weak local results for the group.
- Officials described extraordinary voting conditions, including improvised polling sites and locally made ballots, and the prime minister said the local races could lay groundwork for broader national elections.