Palestinians held local elections in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, marking the first vote there in over two decades. Analysts view the election, which included Hamas-affiliated candidates, as a gauge of current public sentiment.

Palestinians on Saturday cast ballots in tents and damaged buildings in Deir al-Balah, marking the first local election in part of Gaza Strip in over 20 years. With Hamas affiliated candidates on the list of candidates, the vote serves as a "barometer" on Palestinian public opinion, said Hussein Ibish, Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute.