Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday postponed legislative elections due next month until 11 September 2027, and called a presidential poll for the same date, blaming Israel and the security situation in the Palestinian territories for the delay.
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 participate in the vote.
Palestinians have not held legislative elections since 2006 or a presidential election since 2005. Abbas has ruled by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009.
In a post on X, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, pointing to the last Palestinian election having been held two decades ago, rejected Abbas' remarks as “yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability.”
Following the 2006 legislative elections, Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 after clashes with forces loyal to Abbas' Fatah movement.
The decision followed consultations with Palestinian factions and political groups. The decree also cited the need for a comprehensive national dialogue to strengthen Palestinian unity and address challenges facing the electoral process.
Two Palestinian officials told Reuters on Thursday that Fatah and Hamas leaders had agreed at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday to postpone the elections.
An August poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research showed declining support for both movements, which many Palestinians blame for the political divisions between Gaza and the West Bank.
The postponement comes weeks after Abbas reaffirmed the November election timetable in an address to the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September, as he sought to advance internationally backed reforms.
Abbas had pledged to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to hold presidential and legislative elections as part of France's recognition of a Palestinian state in September 2025.
France's foreign ministry said on Thursday that holding the elections was essential and welcomed the launch of a European Union election observation mission.
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