In a sweeping reset of the Palestinian political calendar, President Mahmoud Abbas has pushed back legislative elections that were due next month until 11 September 2027 and ordered that a presidential vote be held on the same day, citing Israel’s actions and a deteriorating security environment across the Palestinian territories.
According to a decree issued by Mr Abbas and reported by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the postponement was driven by “obstacles posed by Israeli measures” and by what it described as the need to secure political, security and on-the-ground conditions that would allow for “free, fair and inclusive elections”.
The decree called on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza to vote.
Even before the announcement, 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, a period that ended with Mr Abbas’ rival, the Islamist movement Hamas, taking control of Gaza after ousting his loyalists.
Since his presidential mandate expired in 2009, Mr Abbas has governed by decree.
In laying out its rationale, the decree pointed to Israeli military attacks, settlement expansion, settler violence and movement restrictions across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. It also said Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues had added to the difficulties of preparing for elections slated for November.
For Gaza, the decree cited “exceptional security and humanitarian conditions”, along with what it described as an incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces. It also referenced stalled reconstruction efforts and a lack of implementation of arrangements to deploy international stabilisation forces and police.
Complicating preparations further, the decree said Israel had imposed restrictions on access for election commission staff and international observers to Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Mr Abbas’ decision followed consultations with Palestinian factions and political forces, the decree said. It also framed the delay as a chance to create space for a broad Palestinian national dialogue aimed at reinforcing unity and tackling challenges that surround the electoral process.
Pledge to hold vote after two decades
Two Palestinian officials told Reuters on Thursday that leaders from Mr Abbas’ Fatah movement and Hamas had agreed at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday to postpone the elections.
The change in course comes only weeks after Mr Abbas used his 24 September address to the UN General Assembly to restate the November election timetable, part of an effort to promote internationally backed reforms.
Mr Abbas had also given a written commitment to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that presidential and legislative elections would be held, linking the pledge to France’s recognition of a Palestinian state in September 2025.
France’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that holding the elections was essential and it welcomed the launch of an EU election observation mission.
