In a decree issued on Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cited “obstacles posed by Israeli measures” as the reason for delaying the vote, which he said must be “free, fair and inclusive.” He pointed to Israeli settler violence, military attacks, and movement restrictions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues.
Abbas said the postponement was intended to protect voters’ safety and ensure that Palestinians could freely exercise their right to vote.
The Palestinians have not held a presidential election since 2005 or legislative elections since 2006.
On September 7, President Abbas signed a decree scheduling legislative elections for November 28, 2026, with a presidential election set to take place at an unscheduled date in 2027.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Saturday that Israeli forces had continued to launch attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, despite the ceasefire remaining in effect. The strikes killed at least 10 people and injured dozens, according to the ministry.
Gaza health officials described the latest attacks as among the deadliest in recent weeks. According to the Health Ministry, at least 74,370 people have been killed and nearly 175,400 injured in Gaza since the conflict began on October 7, 2023.
