Full Breakdown
Hamas Signals Participation in 2026 Palestinian Legislative Elections
8/13/2026, 9:26:42 PM
Core Event: Hamas Announces Intent to Run in a Broad Coalition
Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’s political bureau and head of its Office of National Relations, told Al-Aqsa TV that the movement will take part in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections as part of “the broadest possible national coalition.”
Background & Context
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has been dormant since the 2007 split that left Hamas governing Gaza and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA) administering the West Bank. The last PLC election was held in January 2006, when Hamas won 74 seats and Fatah 45. Abbas dissolved the council in 2018, and no legislative elections have been held since. On July 9, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree setting the legislative election date as November 28, 2026, with plans for a National Council and presidential election in 2027.
Data & Statistics
- 2006 PLC election: Hamas 74 seats, Fatah 45 seats.
- PLC inactive since 2007; formally dissolved by Abbas in 2018.
- Hamas claims to have secured the release of “thousands of Palestinian prisoners” in exchanges following its October 7, 2023 invasion of southern Israel.
Official Statements & Responses
- Husam Badran (Hamas political bureau): The group will join the election under a “broadest possible national coalition” and opposes any imposed political program.
- Mahmoud Abbas (President of the PA): Decree of July 9 set November 28, 2026 as the election date, calling on Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem to vote.
- Harel Chorev, researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center, noted that Hamas is emphasizing political activity over military activity, describing the shift as “pragmatic” but stressing that the organization’s ultimate goal remains unchanged.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Hamas is also emphasizing political activity over military activity. One may call it pragmatic, but the goal at the end of the day is not different. They will not accept Israel, and they will not change ideologically. But they want to handle the crisis in a different, more moderate way,” — Harel Chorev
Timeline
- July 9 – President Abbas signs decree fixing November 28, 2026 for legislative elections.
- 12 August 2026 – Husam Badran reiterates Hamas’s intent to run in the “broadest possible national coalition” in an Al-Aqsa TV interview.
- November 28, 2026 – Scheduled date for the Palestinian Legislative Council elections.
What’s Next
The PLC elections are set for November 28, 2026. If held, they will be followed by the convening of the Palestinian National Council and a presidential election in 2027, as outlined in Abbas’s July decree.
