Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas leads the newly elected Fatah Central Committee meeting in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 3, 2026. (Photo: PPO/Handout via REUTERS)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas leads the newly elected Fatah Central Committee meeting in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 3, 2026. (Photo: PPO/Handout via REUTERS)

According to a presidential decree published by the official WAFA news agency, Abbas did not specify an exact date for the election, but said it would take place sometime in 2027. The decree stipulated that elections for the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), will be held in November 2026.

Abbas, 90, has led the Palestinian Authority since 2005. His term has effectively been extended 15 years beyond its original mandate due to repeated postponements or cancellations of elections.

Previous election delays were commonly attributed to disputes between the ruling Fatah movement and Hamas, as well as disagreements over voting arrangements in East Jerusalem.