The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority included the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah in local elections. This move is seen as an attempt to reinforce the PA's claims of authority over the war-torn Gaza territory.

The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority hopes the symbolic inclusion of the Gazan city ⁠of Deir al-Balah will help reinforce its claim to authority over the war-torn territory, from where it was ousted by Hamas in 2007