RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has again postponed the long-delayed Palestinian elections, issuing a decree to push the vote for the Palestinian Legislative Council and the presidency to Sept. 11, 2027. The decision was announced on Friday by WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, marking nearly two decades since the last legislative election and more than 15 years since the last presidential vote.
The latest delay came following a meeting of senior Palestinian officials on Saturday. The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, chaired by Abbas, cited unfavorable conditions across East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip as reasons for postponement. The committee specifically pointed to Israel’s refusal to permit election materials and international observers into Gaza as obstacles to conducting the election.
Israel rejected those claims. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed Abbas’ assertions as false, accusing the Palestinian leader of trying to evade responsibility. “Abbas’ attempt to drag Israel into this, falsely claiming that Israel imposed obstacles to holding elections, is yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability," Saar said on the social media platform X.
The postponement was anticipated after various Palestinian factions met in Cairo last week to discuss the election timeline. Mohammed al-Hindi, deputy secretary-general of the militant group Islamic Jihad, told the Associated Press ahead of the delay that the factions favored postponing the vote. Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, termed the postponement "a step in the right direction" and advocated for continued dialogue on rebuilding Palestinian institutions prior to rescheduling elections.
Palestinians last held legislative elections in 2006, when Hamas won a majority of seats. The international community largely boycotted the resulting government, leading to violent clashes and Hamas’ forceful takeover of Gaza in 2007. Since then, governance has remained split, with Hamas controlling Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas' Fatah party, administering parts of the West Bank under Israeli occupation.
The Palestinian Authority has faced growing criticism and declining popularity among Palestinians, who accuse it of corruption and of cooperating with Israeli security forces. The West Bank has experienced increased violence in recent years amid Israel’s expansion of settlements and frequent clashes involving Israeli forces, settlers, and Palestinian residents.
Efforts to broker a reconciliation and power-sharing arrangement between Hamas and Fatah remain stalled. While a ceasefire agreement mediated last year outlined a potential role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, Hamas continues to exercise control over the territory, with some Palestinian technocrats awaiting permission from Hamas to begin a transition process.
Ahead of the postponement, no political factions had officially registered to contest the elections. However, behind-the-scenes discussions had revealed an emerging alliance between Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and a faction led by former Fatah security chief Mohammed Dahlan. Dahlan, exiled since 2010 following disputes with Abbas, has been viewed as a political rival.
A spokesperson for Dahlan’s faction accused Abbas of fearing the electoral coalition, saying, “Abbas is terrified by the electoral alliance bringing our faction together with opposition factions and forces within Fatah that reject his leadership.”
Abbas has been president since 2005 and has delayed several elections during his lengthy tenure, raising concerns about the Palestinian Authority's democratic legitimacy and future political direction.