فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
April 25, 2026 – International News
International – Fes News
Palestinians headed to the polls on Saturday, April 25, 2026, to elect heads and members of local councils in the West Bank and parts of the Gaza Strip. This marks the first electoral process since the outbreak of the recent war, taking place under complex humanitarian and security conditions.
According to the Central Elections Commission, around 1.5 million registered voters in the West Bank are eligible to vote, along with approximately 70,000 voters in the Deir al-Balah area of Gaza. The vote is seen as largely symbolic given the current الظروف.
Available data indicate that voter turnout reached حوالي 24.5% by midday, with relatively low participation observed at polling stations, based on field reports.
The head of the elections commission, Rami Hamdallah, stressed the importance of this electoral process, calling on citizens to participate as an expression of democratic engagement in exceptional circumstances.
The elections come in the aftermath of the war that erupted in October 2023, which resulted in significant human and material losses. Official figures report more than 72,000 casualties, while humanitarian conditions remain particularly difficult, especially in Gaza.
Despite the limited powers of local councils—mainly restricted to managing local services such as water supply and infrastructure—they remain one of the few remaining mechanisms for democratic practice, amid the absence of legislative and presidential elections since 2006.
The الانتخابات are also marked by the absence of lists affiliated with Hamas, while candidates supported by Fatah or independents are participating, reflecting the current political balance.
Observers believe that these elections serve as a test of the role of local institutions and an opportunity to revive governance mechanisms at the territorial level, amid international calls for reforms and improved local administration.
Polling stations are expected to close in the evening, with vote counting to begin under special conditions, particularly in Gaza, where severe electricity shortages persist.
Source: Fes News Media
