Full Breakdown
Palestinian Legislative Elections Set for Nov. 28, 2026
7/10/2026, 2:13:21 PM
Core Event
On Thursday, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree scheduling legislative elections for Saturday, November 28, 2026. The decree calls on voters in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to participate in “free and direct legislative elections to elect members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.” If held, the vote will be the first parliamentary election since 2006, when Hamas won a surprise victory that precipitated the split between Hamas-controlled Gaza and the Fatah-led West Bank.
Background & Context
The 2006 election triggered a political rupture that has left the Palestinian Legislative Council dormant for two decades. A 2021 election attempt was cancelled after Israel refused to guarantee voting in East Jerusalem. International donors—including France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Syria—have repeatedly pressed the Palestinian Authority (PA) for reforms and a return to electoral politics. The pressure intensified after many countries formally recognised a Palestinian state in response to Israel’s war in Gaza that began in October 2023, a conflict that has destroyed more than 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure and displaced nearly the entire 2.1 million-person population.
Key Figures & Groups
- Mahmoud Abbas – President of the State of Palestine, in office since 2005.
- Fatah – Dominant party in the West Bank, led by senior figures such as Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison.
- Hamas – Governing Gaza authority, facing legal and security obstacles to fielding candidates.
- National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) – Technocratic panel slated to assume Gaza’s administration under a U.S.–backed agreement.
- Wafa – Official PA news agency that released the decree’s text.
- Donor states – France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Syria and others whose aid is tied to electoral reforms.
Data & Statistics
- Seats in the Legislative Council are to rise from 132 to 200, per the decree.
- The median age of Palestinians in the territories is about 20 years, meaning most voters have never cast a ballot.
- Gaza’s population stands at roughly 2.1 million, with the majority displaced and the territory’s infrastructure largely destroyed.
Official Statements & Responses
The PA’s Wafa agency reiterated that the decree “calls on the Palestinian people…to participate in free and direct legislative elections.” Abbas’s office framed the election as a step to “establish the foundations of democracy and complete the electoral process that began in the State of Palestine.” The decree also amends the Palestinian National Council rules, requiring at least one-third female representation on its electoral lists, lowering the candidate age minimum to 23 and expanding the Legislative Council’s size.
Criticism & Opposition
Israel has not publicly commented but would need to permit voting in East Jerusalem, a condition that blocked the 2021 elections. Logistical hurdles in Gaza—destroyed polling stations, an outdated population registry and security concerns—raise doubts about the vote’s feasibility. Hamas officials warn that any attempt to run openly could trigger arrests in the West Bank and targeted killings in Gaza, prompting the group to consider backing independent candidates instead. Palestinian critics also question the PA’s legitimacy, citing long-standing accusations of corruption and the fact that Abbas has ruled by decree for more than 15 years.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether the seat increase to 200 was announced in the November 28 decree or in a separate November 1 decree concerning the Palestinian National Council. Details on how Hamas might participate remain unclear, and Israel’s official stance on facilitating voting in East Jerusalem has not been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is understood to be a consequence, an outcome if you will, of the dialogue between the Palestinian president, the Palestinian leadership and foreign countries, namely powerful countries,” — Nour Odeh, Al Jazeera reporter
- “People are holding back their enthusiasm. Even though holding elections, a change in leadership, is the overwhelming demand of Palestinians according to polls,” — Nour Odeh
- “In the West Bank, the moment Hamas presents candidates or opens campaign headquarters, Israel will arrest them immediately,” — source close to Hamas (reported)
- “Marwan Barghouti will definitely participate in the presidential elections in the first quarter of 2027.” — source close to Barghouti (reported)
- “He will run whether Abbas runs or anyone else runs,” a source close to Barghouti said.” — source close to Barghouti (reported)
What’s Next
The PA has indicated that a presidential election will be held in the first quarter of 2027. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is scheduled to assume administrative control of Gaza, potentially shaping the environment in which the legislative vote will occur. International donors are expected to monitor the election’s conduct before releasing further aid.
