Mahmoud Abbas postpones the Palestinian elections until September 2027 and a decree explains the reasons

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (90 years old) announced the holding of simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections on September 11, 2027, extending his term, which officially ended 17 years ago. In a decree issued on Saturday, Abbas called on Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem to participate in the elections scheduled to be held next year.

The decree pointed to a number of obstacles preventing elections this year, most of which are related to Israeli policies. The decree postponed the legislative elections that were scheduled to be held next month, and also set a new date for holding the presidential elections.

Restrictions on the movement of voters and election officials, the halt of the post-war reconstruction of Gaza, and Israel's withholding of funds allocated to the Palestinian Authority were among the reasons cited to justify this postponement. The decree said, according to the official Palestinian Wafa news agency: “These circumstances together affect the possibility of holding free, fair and comprehensive elections based on their previous date, in a way that guarantees public safety and the ability of Palestinians to exercise their electoral rights freely and safely throughout the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.”

No presidential elections have been held in the Palestinian territories since Abbas was elected in 2005. His 4-year term ended in 2009, but he remained in office.

The last Palestinian legislative elections were held in 2006. Mahmoud Abbas, the oldest Arab leader, repeatedly postponed national elections for nearly two decades, and failed efforts at reconciliation between rival Palestinian factions and increasing Israeli restrictions on Palestinian funds and movement have kept the process on hold.