Abbas postpones Palestinian legislative elections to September 2027, calls presidential vote
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delayed legislative elections until September 11, 2027, citing Israeli measures and security conditions, and called a presidential vote for the same date.
Jerusalem, Palestine. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday postponed legislative elections scheduled for next month until September 11, 2027, and called a presidential election for the same date. He attributed the delay to Israeli measures and the security situation in the Palestinian territories.
Decree cites obstacles to elections
Abbas’ decree cited “obstacles posed by Israeli measures” and the need to establish suitable political, security and on-the-ground conditions for “free, fair and inclusive elections”, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
The decree called on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza to vote.
It said Israeli military attacks, settlement expansion, settler violence and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, along with Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, created challenges to preparing for and holding elections this November.
In Gaza, the decree cited “exceptional security and humanitarian conditions”, the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces, a lack of progress in reconstruction and the failure to implement arrangements for deploying international stabilisation forces and police.
Israeli restrictions on access to Gaza and East Jerusalem for election commission staff and international observers also complicated preparations, according to the decree.
Consultations and national dialogue
The postponement followed consultations with Palestinian factions and political forces. The decision also aimed to allow time for a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue to strengthen unity and address challenges facing the electoral process.
Two Palestinian officials told Reuters on Thursday that leaders of Abbas’ Fatah movement and rival Hamas had agreed at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday to postpone the elections.
Long gap since previous elections
There had been serious doubts that the Palestinian Authority vote would go ahead next month.
Palestinians have not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005–06. After those elections, Abbas’ rival, the Islamist group Hamas, seized control of Gaza and ousted his loyalists.
Abbas has ruled by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009.
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