, April 25 -- Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and parts of the Gaza Strip began voting on Saturday in municipal elections, the first since Israel's war on Gaza began in October 2023.

According to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission, nearly 1.5 million voters are registered in the West Bank, while about 70,000 people are eligible to vote in the Deir el-Balah area of the Gaza Strip, reports Al Jazeera.

Polling stations opened at 7am (04:00 GMT), marking a significant political event amid ongoing conflict.

The elections are being held as many residents in Gaza continue to face severe humanitarian challenges, struggling to meet basic needs due to continued Israeli military operations.

Since the start of the war, at leas...