Palestinian president postpones elections until September 2027

Voting for the Legislative Council was scheduled for next month, while the presidential election was expected for early 2027. However, the new decree attributes the postponement to obstacles imposed by Israeli measures and the lack of political, security and logistical conditions to guarantee free, fair and inclusive elections.

The document also mentions restrictions on freedom of movement and the withholding of Palestinian revenues by Israel, factors that, according to the text, make the preparation and holding of elections difficult.

Reuters reported, based on Palestinian sources, that Fatah and Hamas leaders agreed to the postponement.

According to Wafa, security conditions and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip also make it difficult to organize the elections. The lack of progress in the reconstruction of the territory and the absence of international stabilization forces were highlighted among the factors that influenced the decision.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the decision. According to Al Jazeera, he accused the Palestinian Authority of deceiving the international community by preparing to cancel the electoral process.

Less than a month before the postponement, Abbas had reaffirmed the November calendar in a speech to the UN General Assembly and made written commitments to the governments of France and Saudi Arabia.

Palestinians have not held general elections for nearly two decades. The last presidential election took place in 2005, when Abbas was elected. The most recent legislative vote was held in 2006 and ended in Hamas victory.

The result deepened the dispute between Hamas and Fatah, a movement led by Abbas. In 2007, after clashes between the groups, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, while the Palestinian Authority, dominated by Fatah, maintained its administration in parts of the West Bank.