Mahmoud Abbas sets Palestinian legislative election for Nov. 28, 2026

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree calling on Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip to vote in parliamentary elections on 28 November 2026. If held, it would be the first legislative poll since 2006, when Hamas won a majority and the Palestinian Legislative Council has been largely inactive.

The decree also announced that a presidential election will be scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. International donors and regional powers, including France, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have urged the Authority to restore democratic legitimacy, while critics note that Israeli restrictions in East Jerusalem, the devastated infrastructure in Gaza and the longstanding split between Fatah and Hamas pose major obstacles. Arab and European officials are reportedly mediating contacts between the two factions to try to secure a unified candidate list and to ensure voting can take place in Gaza.

Analysts say the vote’s feasibility remains uncertain, but the announcement marks a significant political step for the Palestinian Authority amid pressure to reform institutions and to demonstrate governance capacity to its population and to the international community.