Press Release
Civic Campaign Notes Integrity of Deir al-Balah Elections and Stresses the Need to Generalize Elections to Affirm the Palestinian People’s Capacity for Self-Governance
The Civic Campaign for Election Monitoring, established by the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) in partnership with several civil society organizations, expresses its satisfaction with the overall conduct of all stages of the electoral process, culminating in the announcement of the results of the Deir al-Balah municipal elections. The Campaign notes that the final results reflected the free will of voters, despite dozens of violations and irregularities it documented; however, these did not rise to a level that affected the final outcome.
While congratulating the winning lists, the Campaign stresses the necessity of generalizing elections to cover all municipalities in the Gaza Strip and all representative institutions, as a means of affirming the Palestinian people’s capacity for self-governance. The Campaign also commends the calm atmosphere that prevailed on election day, the absence of uncontrolled clashes, and the strong presence of observers, list agents, and media representatives.
The Central Elections Commission announced the preliminary results of the Deir al-Balah municipal elections, indicating that (16,081) voters cast their ballots out of (70,449) registered voters, representing a turnout of (22.83%). The fifteen municipal council seats were distributed among the competing lists as follows: Peace and Construction won (2) seats; Deir al-Balah Unites Us won (2) seats; Future of Deir al-Balah won (5) seats; and Renaissance of Deir al-Balah won (6) seats.
Voters in Deir al-Balah headed to the polls on Saturday, April 25, 2026, to elect members of the local council, pursuant to a decision by the Palestinian Council of Ministers setting the election date. The Commission stated that the elections were conducted under a proportional representation system (open lists). Four independent electoral lists competed for the (15) council seats, while political parties and factions had officially announced their non-participation in the municipal elections.
The electoral process was conducted under exceptional conditions, amid the ongoing war of genocide, the collapse of economic, social, and cultural sectors, destruction of infrastructure, and severe shortages of electricity and fuel for transportation. Large numbers of displaced persons, whose homes and properties had been destroyed, were sheltering in public facilities and schools. Despite these challenges, the Central Elections Commission made notable and exceptional efforts, particularly after occupation forces prevented the entry of essential election materials such as indelible ink, ballots, and ballot boxes. The Commission managed to secure these materials locally, including contracting local companies to manufacture ballot boxes.
The Commission established (12) polling centers with (100) polling stations distributed geographically across Deir al-Balah. Among these were (3) centers located within civil society institutions: the Women’s Activity Association Center, Rawafed Association for Social Development, and the Deir al-Balah Youth union Club. Due to the inability to use schools and educational facilities (as they were sheltering displaced persons), the Commission set up tents provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). These tents, made of fiberglass materials designed for emergency housing units, were erected in agricultural lands and artificial turf fields and distributed according to specific criteria.
In response to low turnout, the Central Elections Commission extended voting by one hour, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, to allow more voters to cast their ballots.
The Civic Campaign closely monitored key stages of the electoral process - particularly the nomination phase, the campaign period, and voting - to assess their compliance with the law, ensure free and fair elections, and prevent voter intimidation or undue influence. The Campaign implemented an intensive training program, successfully training (75) observers on election monitoring principles and practices, and deployed (65) observers across all polling centers after they were accredited by the Commission.
Based on a preliminary review of complaints and observations recorded by observers, the Campaign documented violations related to campaign regulations, including continued cases of defamation, incitement, and personal attacks against candidates and lists - particularly on social media. Some lists also used public facilities to promote their campaigns and posted materials on the walls of public institutions. The Campaign submitted several complaints via email to the Central Elections Commission.
The Campaign also recorded procedural violations related to voting and counting processes. Complaints varied and included issues with polling committee procedures, attempts by candidates and agents to influence voters, technical problems related to the electronic system and voter identification, as well as logistical issues. Additional observations concerned general aspects of the process, such as opening and closing times, voting by illiterate persons, and the presence of security personnel.
The Campaign noted that some polling centers lacked adequate sanitation facilities, one center had sewage water at its entrance, and several centers were not accessible for persons with disabilities or the elderly. It also observed the presence of campaign slogans or materials within or near polling sites. In total, the Campaign submitted (182) complaints through the electronic system to the Central Elections Commission, which addressed (15) cases.
It is noteworthy that the Commission contracted a private security company to maintain order. However, on election day, observers recorded concerns regarding the entry of armed personnel into some polling centers, sometimes in groups, as well as the positioning of security personnel at entrances - despite prior agreements requiring them to remain at a distance. In limited cases, they entered polling centers, in violation of election law provisions.
The Civic Campaign affirms that conducting elections amid the ongoing crime of genocide represents a significant achievement, reflecting the Palestinian people’s determination to live, to participate politically, to manage public affairs, and to exercise their right to choose their representatives.
The Campaign emphasizes the importance of holding elections across all municipalities in the Gaza Strip and conducting general elections for all sovereign institutions, as a means of strengthening political participation and safeguarding citizens’ rights to freely and fairly elect their representatives and to engage in public governance.
It further notes that long intervals between election cycles and violations of the principle of periodic elections undermine public trust and discourage participation, while also weakening the role of elections as a tool for accountability.
The Campaign observes that the severe humanitarian conditions have reshaped citizens’ priorities in Gaza, with basic needs such as shelter and survival taking precedence - one of the key factors contributing to low voter turnout, alongside the boycott by political parties.
While congratulating the winners, the Campaign wishes them success and hopes they will meet the expectations of voters by serving both residents and displaced persons in the municipality. The Campaign also calls upon the President and the Palestinian leadership to generalize elections at all levels, as a reaffirmation of the Palestinian people’s capacity for life and for self-governance.
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