Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas postpones elections to 2027

Around 20 years after the last elections in the Palestinian territories, the parliamentary elections that were supposed to take place in November have been postponed again. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas explained that Israel's actions and the security situation in the Palestinian territories do not currently allow voting.

The corresponding decree speaks of obstacles that arise “from Israeli measures,” as the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported on Saturday. The vote was therefore postponed to September 11, 2027. Abbas also scheduled the presidential election for the same day. Since his mandate expired in 2009, Abbas has ruled by decree.

The decree cites, among other things, Israeli military attacks, settlement expansion and the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues as hurdles for election preparations. In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation and the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli troops are also making the process more difficult.

The decision to postpone followed consultations with Palestinian groups. Two Palestinian officials told Reuters on Thursday that senior members of Abbas' Fatah movement and rival Hamas had already agreed on the move at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday.

There had already been considerable doubts in advance as to whether the vote would actually take place. The last Palestinian elections took place in 2005 and 2006. The Islamist Hamas then took control of the Gaza Strip.

Abbas stressed on Saturday the need to create suitable conditions for free and fair elections. Abbas called on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to take part in the vote.

Just a few weeks ago, Abbas confirmed the timetable for elections in November at the United Nations. He had also promised in writing to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that elections would be held. This was a condition for the French recognition of a Palestinian state in September 2025. The Foreign Ministry in Paris announced on Thursday that the vote was essential.