Gaza residents vote in first municipal election since 2006 amid war destruction.

Deir el-Balah residents cast ballots in their first municipal election since 2006, despite ongoing destruction and displacement.

Early this morning, Salama Badwan led his wife and daughter toward a polling station in central Gaza.

The 43-year-old man felt immense joy after such a long wait from his last vote.

His daughter, who recently turned 18, cast her very first ballot in her young life.

This vote marks the first municipal election since a ceasefire began in Israel's genocidal war on Palestinians.

The conflict has shattered daily life and disrupted every aspect of the electoral process.

Many buildings in Deir el-Balah now stand damaged or completely destroyed by the war.

Polling stations have been hastily erected inside temporary fibreglass tents on open ground.

Salama Badwan declared today a truly Palestinian democratic celebration filled with hope.

After more than twenty-one years of exclusion, generations have finally regained the right to vote. Today, my daughter casts her ballot for the first time, Badwan told Al Jazeera. He views these elections as a vital path for Gazans to secure change through peaceful, democratic channels. We must transform our reality via the ballot box, he insisted. Whoever wins holds the right to lead, but never through inheritance. Change must remain firmly in the hands of the people.

Despite this optimism, the situation in Deir el-Balah remains intricate amid the current ceasefire. This central Gaza city, usually calm, now shelters hundreds of thousands of displaced residents. The influx has overwhelmed local infrastructure with unprecedented pressure. Deir el-Balah received massive numbers of displaced people, each bringing unique hardships and suffering. This situation strained water networks, sewage systems, and waste management facilities. The previous municipality is completely exhausted by these demands.

Deir el-Balah qualified to host elections because its infrastructure suffered less damage than other Gaza cities during the war. Badwan hopes for a new municipal council capable of managing the post-war crisis. This team must operate independently of the political divisions between Hamas and Fatah. We need a strong municipal group that belongs to no faction, he stated. Such a body can secure donor support and meet people's needs. Today, Deir el-Balah hosts everyone fleeing the conflict.

On the streets, the atmosphere feels positive and enjoyable despite widespread frustration with politicians. People are tired of empty promises and unfulfilled pledges, Badwan noted. He urged everyone to participate in the vote. I told my friends and children we must go and vote, he said. We cannot just sit at home and wait for change to arrive.

Dunia Salama, an 18-year-old nursing student, stood beside her father with visible joy. I am very happy to vote in my country and my city, she declared. Like others in my generation, I can finally participate and have a voice. She admitted she had never voted before and lacked a clear idea. Her father explained how the system works and how our voices help change our difficult reality.

Dunia's motivations are practical and directly tied to daily life conditions. These conditions have sharply deteriorated since Israel launched the war in October 2023. She chose a candidate list composed mostly of young people. She described them as capable and experienced in their work. Her hope centers on a more efficient municipal administration. The reality after displacement is far from stable, she observed. The situation is tragic, especially regarding cleanliness, public streets, healthcare, and education. Everything is in very bad condition.

She hopes these elections create a situation where students return to schools. New housing alternatives and camps must be provided for displaced people instead of using schools. We want things to go back to how they were, she said. Schools should return to students instead of serving as shelters. Hospitals must improve, and streets should be cleaned.

For Awda Abdel Karim Abu Baraka, 73, the elections represent a crucial opportunity. He wants to choose those capable of reviving society and institutions. These institutions have been stalled for years. He believes these local elections could carry broader significance beyond Deir el-Balah.

They are part of a larger system … the West Bank and Gaza," he explains. Holding elections today in Deir el-Balah shows the world that we are a democratic people. We choose our representatives without imposition. He adds, expressing hope that the international community will support this path.

He also stressed the need for the winners of the vote to respect the city's residents. These citizens have suffered for years amid Israel's war. There must be real programmes, not high slogans that later fall. The citizens must be respected. Their dignity and humanity – violated by war – must be restored.

Despite recognizing the scale of challenges, he remains committed to gradual change. We know the challenges are big and that change takes time. A long journey begins with a single step. Hopefully, this is the first step on the way.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Abu Nada, coordinator of the Deir el-Balah electoral district, moved between voters and staff. He worked inside tents set up in place of school polling stations. He described an electoral process that was "born out of nothing."

He recalls greeting the initial announcement of the elections by the Central Elections Commission in the West Bank. He felt a mix of surprise and a strong sense of responsibility. At first, the news was unexpected. There was joy that we were returning to work after two and a half years of suffering under war. But at the same time, there was a strong sense of responsibility.

That feeling quickly collided with the complex logistical reality in the city. The city is suffering from widespread destruction and severe shortages of resources. Capabilities are extremely limited. Even this place was just empty land. They relied on tents from international organisations to use as polling stations. Most schools have been turned into shelters for displaced people.

Despite these challenges, polling centres were set up across the city. This task was far from easy. The difficulties did not stop there. Essential electoral materials, usually transported from Ramallah, were prevented from entering Gaza.

Abu Nada explains the challenges in securing logistical items such as ballot boxes, stamps, papers, and campaign materials. They had to rely on their local capabilities. Ballot boxes were designed and manufactured here in Deir el-Balah. They served the purpose fully.

Even electoral ink was unavailable. It was denied entry by Israeli authorities. Access to critical information and resources remains strictly limited. This privileged access creates significant risks for vulnerable communities. The situation demands immediate attention. Time is running out for those affected.

In a move that underscores the scarcity of resources, election officials utilized ink previously supplied by the World Health Organization for vaccination drives. Testing confirmed the ink remains visible on fingers for days, ensuring its suitability for the vote. This improvisation highlights a reality where access to standard election materials is severely restricted, forcing authorities to rely on repurposed supplies to maintain democratic processes.

The logistical environment was defined by extreme hardship. With printing costs soaring tenfold and essential supplies in short supply, the team operated day and night to overcome these barriers. From a lack of paper to the unavailability of stamps, every step of the process was fraught with difficulty. Despite these obstacles, officials successfully facilitated voting for approximately 70,000 eligible voters in the city, a feat achieved through relentless effort rather than adequate resources.

Voter turnout presented a complex picture, starting slowly in the early morning before gaining momentum later in the day. Abu Nada attributed the initial hesitation to the immediate survival needs of the population. With residents standing in long lines to secure water and bread, the priority for many was basic sustenance over civic participation. However, officials remain optimistic that turnout will continue to rise as the day progresses.

The selection of Deir el-Balah for these elections was a calculated decision rather than a random one. Completely destroyed areas, such as northern Gaza and Khan Younis, were deemed impossible for voting. Instead, authorities chose Deir el-Balah, an area with minimal capacity, hoping to expand the electoral zone in the future. This limitation reflects the grim reality that much of the territory remains too devastated to support democratic functions.

Even within this constrained setting, the challenges facing the new municipal council are profound. Abu Nada noted that Deir el-Balah is no longer what it was before the war, facing immense population pressure and heightened public expectations. The campaign itself was executed in record time, resembling the frantic activity of a beehive. Organizers conducted more than 20 awareness workshops, collaborated with local institutions and influencers, and distributed posters to educate citizens on voting procedures and encourage participation.

Ultimately, the day concluded with a profound sense of accomplishment. Standing before the community, officials emphasized that exercising the right to vote under such dire conditions is a success in itself. As Abu Nada stated, "Today, in front of everyone, we are exercising our electoral right despite all conditions … and that in itself is a success." He framed this achievement not as an end, but as the first step on a longer road toward rebuilding civic life. The urgency of the situation is clear: without immediate expansion into other areas and the resolution of basic humanitarian crises, the scope of this democratic experiment remains fragile and limited.