Palestinians Vote in First Elections Since Gaza War

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Palestinians in the West Bank in one small area of Gaza, called Dear Al-Bala, are hitting the polls Saturday for municipal elections, the first since.

The Gaza War kicked off. Nearly 1.5 million folks are registered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, plus 70,000 in that Gaza spot, run by the.

Ramallah-based Elections Commission. Most lists lean toward President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, or independent, with zero from rival Hamas, which runs much of Gaza.

In cities like Nablus and Ramallah, just one list showed up, so they win without a single vote cast.

Voters feel deep disillusionment, saying the Israeli occupation calls the real shots, making these polls more show than substance.

Still, some see it as a spark of defiance, proving they're still here amid the chaos.

In Gaza, this is an experiment by Abbas's crew, his first vote there since 2006, picking Dear Al-Bala because people haven't fled like.

Elsewhere, polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the West Bank, closing at 5 p.m. in Gaza for daylight counting without power.

The UN is calling it a credible shot at democracy in tough times, with private security clashing a bit over Hamas insisting on unarmed guards nearby.

It's a small step, but one that echoes resilience against the odds.