Palestinian Authority President Abbas decrees first Palestinian legislative elections since 2006, set for November 28
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree on July 9 setting November 28, 2026, as the date for legislative elections under proportional representation, the first since 2006; Hamas has not yet responded, Israel has not said whether it will allow voting in East Jerusalem, and Gaza's governance status remains unresolved
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Summary
Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, issued a presidential decree on July 9 setting November 28, 2026, as the date for Palestinian legislative elections under proportional representation, which would be the first such vote since 2006. The Palestinian Legislative Council has been effectively suspended since Hamas won those elections and took control of Gaza in 2007. Key unresolved issues include whether Hamas will participate, whether Israel will permit voting in East Jerusalem as required under the Oslo framework, and how Gaza's governance will be handled given the ongoing war. The PA cited international pressure and its own post-Gaza legitimacy needs as driving the announcement; US and European donors have pressed for Palestinian institutional reform as a condition for reconstruction funding.
The split
Palestinian outlet Al-Quds focused on the procedural obstacles, particularly East Jerusalem voting rights, framing the decree as significant but contingent. Asharq Al-Awsat and Al Jazeera treated the announcement as a genuine governance step, with Gulf-aligned coverage emphasising PA authority. Time's US context placed the announcement inside donor politics, arguing the PA is building legitimacy in anticipation of a reconstruction role in Gaza. Middle East Monitor emphasised Hamas's absence from the process and the legal uncertainty around the PA's power to hold elections under a suspended legislature.
By the numbers
- 2006, year of the last Palestinian legislative elections, which Hamas won
- 20 years, the gap since Palestinians last voted for a legislature
- November 28, 2026, the decree date; 143 days from the decree
- 2007, year the Palestinian Legislative Council was suspended after Hamas seized Gaza
Why it matters
The decree is primarily a legitimacy move by Abbas ahead of any post-war settlement in Gaza. Whoever controls Palestinian elections controls who can claim authority over reconstruction, donor money, and ultimately governance of a post-war strip. Israel's response to Jerusalem voting and Hamas's decision on participation will determine whether the elections actually happen, making both veto players with strong incentives to block a vote that would complicate their own positions.
What to watch
- Hamas's formal response to the decree, particularly whether it will register candidates
- Israel's statement on East Jerusalem voting access
- Whether the US and EU formally endorse the November 28 date and tie it to aid conditions
- Any court challenges within the Palestinian Authority to the decree's legal basis