Low turnout as Palestinians vote in first elections since Gaza war

Palestinians in the West Bank and central Gaza voted on Saturday (Apr 25) in municipal elections, the first since the Gaza war erupted, marked by low turnout and a narrow slate of contenders.



Nearly 1.5 million people were registered to vote in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as 70,000 people in Gaza's Deir el-Balah area, according to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission (CEC).



"We are very pleased to exercise democracy in spite of the many challenges we face, both locally and internationally," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas told journalists after voting in Al-Bireh, Wafa news agency said.



Early Saturday, a steady trickle of voters headed to polling stations in the West Bank, as foreign diplomats observed the process.