Palestine - April 2026

On 25 April, local elections were held in municipalities and village councils across the West Bank, and in Deir al-Balah in Gaza; marking the first vote held in parts of Gaza in over 20 years. While the elections represent a positive step toward renewed local electoral participation, the process took place under a 2025 presidential decree by Mahmoud Abbas, which requires candidates to commit to the programme of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and allows the Central Elections Commission to disqualify candidates who do not pledge allegiance. Several political factions and civil society groups criticised these provisions as introducing new restrictions on eligibility and constraining political pluralism.

Sources: Central Elections Commission of Palestine, Independent Commission for Human Rights, Al Quds, The New Arab