What the decree says

In a presidential decree issued on Saturday, Mahmoud Abbas moved the Palestinian legislative elections, previously scheduled for November 28, 2026, to September 11, 2027. The same decree set the next presidential election for that date as well.

According to Abbas's office, in a statement published by the official news agency WAFA, the decree calls for simultaneous presidential and legislative elections on September 11, 2027. Before the change, the legislative polls had been due on November 28, 2026, while a presidential vote had been expected in early 2027.

Reactions before the announcement

A day before the decree, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Abbas of planning to delay the legislative polls. On X, he wrote: "Mahmoud Abbas is fooling the international community by cancelling once again promised elections." He added: "They keep deceiving. Consequences? Not for the corrupt PA!"

Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, had agreed to hold a "national dialogue" before the November vote, and a source told AFP on Thursday that the factions were seeking to postpone it. In early September, Fatah secretary-general Jibril Rajoub told reporters the November elections would not be held on time, saying holding presidential elections first "would solve a large part of the problem".

In early October, WAFA reported, citing a Palestinian Authority source, that Israel had refused to allow Palestinian election officials access to east Jerusalem or Gaza ahead of the polls.

Why the elections matter

The last legislative elections in the Palestinian territories were held in 2006, when Hamas won, defeating Fatah, the movement that dominates the Palestinian Authority. Factional fighting followed, with Hamas seizing power in the Gaza Strip and dividing it from Fatah's West Bank; the Palestinian Legislative Council has not met since 2007.

Abbas won the last presidential election in 2005. His term should have expired in 2009, but he has ruled by decree since then. In June, the 90-year-old leader signed a decree providing for a presidential election at the beginning of 2027.

Holding polls is part of the reforms demanded by the international community, including the European Union.

The next presidential and legislative elections are now set for the same day, September 11, 2027.