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2026 Palestinian legislative election

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2026 Palestinian legislative election
← 2006
28 November 2026
All 200 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council
101 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Current seats
Hamas Khalil al-Hayya 74
Fatah Mahmoud Abbas[a] 45
PFLP Ahmad Sa'adat[b] 3
PNI Mustafa Barghouti 2
Third Way Salam Fayyad 2
DFLP Nayef Hawatmeh[c] 1[d]
PPP Bassam as-Salhi 1[e]
Independents – 4
Election districts
Incumbent Prime Minister
Mohammad Mustafa
Fatah

Legislative elections will be held in Palestine on 28 November 2026 in order to elect the 3rd Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the legislature of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).[1] Most recently, they were scheduled for 22 May 2021 according to a decree by President Mahmoud Abbas on 15 January 2021 but were indefinitely postponed on 29 April 2021.[2][3]

Background

Mahmoud Abbas was elected President of the Palestinian National Authority in January 2005 for a four-year term that ended in January 2009.[4] The last elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) were held on 25 January 2006.[5] Elections since these dates have only been for local offices.

In February 2007, Saudi-sponsored negotiations led to the Hamas & Fatah Mecca Agreement signed by Abbas on behalf of Fatah and Khaled Mashal on behalf of Hamas to form a unity government.[6] In March, the PLC established a national unity government, with 83 representatives voting in favour and three against. Government ministers were sworn in by Abbas, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, at a ceremony held simultaneously in Gaza and Ramallah.

However, in June, renewed fighting broke out between Hamas and Fatah.[7] In the course of the 2007 Battle of Gaza, Hamas exploited the near total collapse of Palestinian Authority forces in Gaza and seized control of the territory, ousting Fatah officials.[8] Abbas then dismissed the Hamas-led PA government[9] and outlawed the Hamas militia.[10]

In September, Fatah unilaterally changed the electoral laws of 2005[11] from the PLC being electing half of its seats proportionally and the other half by first past the post to complete proportional representation.[12] Abbas he could issue the change by decree as long as the PLC was unable to convene.[11] Hamas, which had a majority on the PLC, declared the move illegal.[11]

By 2010, the security and economic situation of the residents of Gaza had deteriorated dramatically.[13] With financial backing from Iran,[14][15] Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israel.[16][17] It expressed interest in taking control of the West Bank[18][19] and stated its intent to use the elections as a means to weaken President Abbas.[20]

Abbas issued a decree stating that at least one in three people on an electoral list must be a woman, that candidates as young as 23 could now run for office, and for the number of seats in the PLC to increase to 200.[1] The electoral threshold was also lowered to 1%.[21]

Attempts to resolve election issue

In February 2010, local government elections were called in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for July 2010.[22] The PA decided to postpone the elections, claiming it wanted to safeguard "national unity".[23] In December 2010, the Palestinian High Court of Justice ruled that once the cabinet called elections, it did not have authority to cancel them.[24] In the end, local elections were held in October and November 2012 and covered only the West Bank.

In February 2011, following the resignation of Saeb Erekat as chief negotiator with Israel for the Israeli–Palestinian peace process after the release of the Palestine Papers,[25] which were harshly critical of the PLO's concessions, the PLO Executive Committee announced intentions to hold elections before October.[26]

Hamas responded that "Hamas will not take part in this election. . . . we will not recognize the results."[27] In October 2011, Abbas sent a proposal to Hamas for another general election, preferably to be held in early 2012. It was suggested that Hamas would be more willing to participate in another election following the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, which boosted Hamas' standing in Gaza.[28] Nonetheless, the election was not held.[29]

In December 2013, Hamas called on the Palestinian Authority to form a six-month national unity government that would finally hold the long-delayed general election.[30] Following the upgrade of the UN status of Palestine to non-member observer state, it was proposed that general state elections would follow in 2013, in line with unity talks of Fatah and Hamas. In April 2014, an agreement was reached to form a unity government, which occurred on 2 June 2014, and for the election to take place within 6 months.[31] However, elections were again postponed.[32]

In October 2017, Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation deal in which Hamas agreed to dissolve the unity government in Gaza and hold general elections by the end of 2018,[33] but also did not come to pass. Mahmoud Abbas announced in a September 2019 in a speech at the UN General Assembly that he intended to set a date for elections once he returned to the West Bank.[34] Hamas responded by indicating that it was ready to hold "comprehensive and general elections",[35] but in November, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad rejected Abbas's terms for holding elections (which required candidates to recognize the agreements signed by the PLO to be able to run).[36]

Suspension of 2021 planned elections

In November 2019, Abbas said that there would be no new Palestinian elections unless they include East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip,[37] a position Hamas affirmed the same month.[38] In September 2020, Fatah and Hamas agreed on elections between February and March 2021.[39]

The EU requested permission from Israel to observe the elections in Jerusalem, but later reported that Israeli authorities did not agree.[40] On 29 April 2021, ahead of a scheduled leadership meeting,[41] Hamas rejected the idea of postponing elections and refused to attend the meeting amid speculation that Abbas would seek to delay or cancel them.[42] However, on the same day, Abbas announced the indefinite postponement of elections, citing Israel's refusal to permit East Jerusalem residents to vote.[43][f]

Reactions

The leaders of the two alternative Fatah candidate lists, Marwan Barghouti and Mohammad Dahlan, stated that Abbas was most concerned about the possibility of defeat by the breakaway Fatah factions or by Hamas.[44] Hamas called the step a "a coup against the path of national partnership and consensus,"[46] and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that it was “deeply disappointing,” while reiterating its ask for Israel to permit East Jerusalem residents to vote.[47]

A poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in June 2021 found that 69% of residents wanted to hold elections soon, even without Israeli approval in East Jerusalem.[48]

Parties

The window for candidate submissions opened on 26 September and will close on 7 October.[49]

An alliance was formed between Hamas, Mohammed Dahlan and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in late September.[50] Alliance negotiations previously included Nasser al-Qudwa and the Reformist Current within Fatah.[51]

Campaign issues

In August 2026, PCPSR conducted a poll ahead of the legislative elections showing the top priorities among the Palestinian population. The issues are unifying the West Bank and Gaza Strip (19%), stopping the killing in the Gaza Strip (18%), improving the economic situation (15%), rebuilding Gaza (11%), confronting settler terrorism (10%), and combating corruption (9%).[52]

Opinion polls

All voting respondents

Fieldwork dates Polling firm Fatah Hamas PFLP PNI Third Way DFLP PPP Undecided/
Other		 Lead
5–8 August 2026 PCPSR 32 29 18 21 3
22–25 October 2025 PCPSR 30 44 10 16 14
10 October 2025 Gaza peace plan goes into effect
1–4 May 2025 PCPSR 28 43 8 19 15
3–7 September 2024 PCPSR 27 45 5 22 18
26 May – 1 June 2024 PCPSR 25 46 6 21 21
5–10 March 2024 PCPSR 22 47 9 24 25
22 November – 2 December 2023 PCPSR 19 51 4 26 32
7 October 2023 Start of Gaza war
6–9 September 2023 PCPSR 34 36 9 21 2
7–11 June 2023 PCPSR 31 34 11 23 3
8–11 March 2023 PCPSR 35 33 9 22 2
7–10 December 2022 PCPSR 34 34 10 21 Tie
13–17 September 2022 PCPSR 34 32 12 22 2
22–25 June 2022 PCPSR 35 36 7 20 1
16–20 March 2022 PCPSR 42 36 8 14 6
8–11 December 2021 PCPSR 35 38 9 18 3
October 2021 JMCC 34.3 10.2 1 0.4 N/a 0.3 0.4 53.4 24.1
15–18 September 2021 PCPSR 32 37 13 18 5
9–12 June 2021 PCPSR 30 41 12 17 11
22 May 2021 Election scheduled for 22 May 2021, indefinitely postponed on 29 April 2021
14–19 March 2021 PCPSR 43 30 8 18 13
8–11 December 2020 PCPSR 38 34 10 19 4
9–12 September 2020 PCPSR 38 34 8 20 4
17–20 June 2020 PCPSR 36 34 8 23 2
5–8 February 2020 PCPSR 38 32 12 18 6
11–14 December 2019 PCPSR 40 32 10 20 8
11–14 September 2019 PCPSR 38 29 11 23 9
27–30 June 2019 PCPSR 39 30 10 21 9
13–16 March 2019 PCPSR 39 32 8 18 7
12–16 December 2018 PCPSR 35 34 10 21 1
5–8 September 2018 PCPSR 36 27 10 28 9
25 June – 1 July 2018 PCPSR 39 32 9 20 7
14–17 March 2018 PCPSR 36 31 9 25 5

Decided voters only

Polling firm Fieldwork Dates Fatah Hamas Other Lead Link
PCPSR 5–8 August 2026 41% 37% 23% 4%
PCPSR 22–25 October 2025 36% 52% 12% 16%
10 October 2025 Gaza peace plan goes into effect
PCPSR 26 May – 1 June 2024 32% 60% 8% 28
PCPSR 5–10 March 2024 28% 60% 12% 32
PCPSR 22 November – 2 December 2023 26% 69% 5% 43
7 October 2023 Start of Gaza war
PCPSR 6–9 September 2023 43% 46% 11% 3
PCPSR 7–11 June 2023 41% 45% 14% 4
PCPSR 8–11 March 2023 45% 43% 12% 2
PCPSR 7–10 December 2022 44% 44% 13% Tie
PCPSR 13–17 September 2022 44% 41% 15% 3
PCPSR 22–25 June 2022 45% 46% 9% 1
PCPSR 16–20 March 2022 49% 42% 9% 7
PCPSR 8–11 December 2021 43% 46% 11% 3
JMCC October 2021 74% 22% 5% 52
PCPSR 15–18 September 2021 39% 45% 16% 6
PCPSR 9–12 June 2021 36% 49% 14% 13
29 April 2021 Elections indefinitely postponed
PCPSR 14–19 March 2021 53% 37% 10% 16
PCPSR 8–11 December 2020 46% 41% 12% 5
PCPSR 9–12 September 2020 48% 43% 10% 5
PCPSR 17–20 June 2020 46% 44% 10% 3
PCPSR 5–8 February 2020 46% 39% 15% 7
PCPSR 11–14 December 2019 49% 39% 12% 10
PCPSR 11–14 September 2019 49% 37% 14% 12
PCPSR 27–30 June 2019 49% 38% 13% 11
PCPSR 13–16 March 2019 49% 41% 10% 9
PCPSR 12–16 December 2018 44% 43% 13% 1
PCPSR 5–8 September 2018 49% 37% 14% 12
PCPSR 25 June –1 July 2018 49% 40% 11% 9
PCPSR 14–17 March 2018 47% 41% 12% 7

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Abbas serves as both President of the Palestinian National Authority and President of the State of Palestine.
  2. ↑ Sa'adat is detained in Israel.
  3. ↑ Hawatmeh lives in exile in Syria.
  4. ↑ As a member of The Alternative
  5. ↑ As a member of The Alternative
  6. ↑ In the lead up to the election, Fatah split into three candidate lists for the election: an official list of candidates backed by Abbas, a list led by a leader of the First and Second Intifada Marwan Barghouti, and a list led by former Fatah security official Mohammad Dahlan.[44] Opinion polling in March gave Abbas's list a quarter of the total vote, with the two Fatah breakaway lists a little short of a quarter between them.[45]

References

  1. 1 2 AlTaher, Nada (16 June 2026). "Palestinian President announces end-of-year elections". The National. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Abbas delays Palestinian parliamentary polls, blaming Israel". Al Jazeera English. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Palestinian parliamentary elections delayed, says Abbas, blaming Israel". Reuters. 29 April 2021. Facing this difficult situation, we decided to postpone the date of holding legislative elections until the participation of Jerusalem and its people is guaranteed.
  4. ↑ Nahmias, Roee (16 December 2008). "Report: Abbas won't run for another term". Ynetnews.
  5. ↑ "The Final Results for the Electoral Lists" (PDF). 29 October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2008.
  6. ↑ "The Palestinian National Unity Government". 24 February 2007. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  7. ↑ Rose, David (20 October 2009). "The Gaza Bombshell". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "The "Gaza War"" (PDF). Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  9. ↑ McGirk, Tim (13 June 2007). "What Happens After Hamas Wins?". Time. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  10. ↑ Daraghmeh, M. (17 June 2007). "Abbas forms cabinet, outlaws Hamas militias". The Star. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 "Abbas insists on amended electoral law". Xinhua. 3 September 2007.
  12. ↑ "Presidential decree pertaining the general elections" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2012.
  13. ↑ John Pike. "Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement)". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  14. ↑ Mohsen Saleh, The Palestinian Strategic Report 2006, Al Manhal, 2007 p. 198.
  15. ↑ Jodi Vittori, Terrorist Financing and Resourcing, Palgrave Macmillan, 2011 pp. 72–74, 193 notes 50, 51.
  16. ↑ Cordesman 2002, p. 326.
  17. ↑ Clauset et al. 2010, pp. 6–33.
  18. ↑ Mattar 2005, p. 196.
  19. ↑ Milton-Edwards & Farrell 2013, pp. 7–8.
  20. ↑ "Gaza's fragile calm: The search for lasting stability". European Council on Foreign Relations. 8 November 2018.
  21. ↑ Ibrahim, Sally (16 June 2026). "Why Abbas's electoral reforms are stirring debate in Palestine". The New Arab. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Palestinian Local Elections 2010". IFES. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  23. ↑ Abu, Khaled (8 June 2011). "PA High Court: Municipal elections can't be delayed". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  24. ↑ "Palestinian High Court: "Cancelling Elections is Illegal"". IFES. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  25. ↑ "Erekat quits over Palestine Papers". Al Jazeera English. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  26. ↑ "Palestine News & Info Agency - WAFA - Palestinian National Elections Before September, Says PLO Executive Committee". Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  27. ↑ "Abbas calls for Palestinian polls - Middle East". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  28. ↑ "Abbas to present Hamas general elections offer". Archived from the original on 20 October 2011.
  29. ↑ "Palestinian elections delayed by Hamas-Fatah bickering". The National. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  30. ↑ "Llamado Hamas a Abbas por gobierno unitario". Ansa (in Spanish). 20 December 2013.
  31. ↑ "Fatah, Hamas agree to form Palestinian unity government". France 24. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  32. ↑ "Palestinian elections on hold until further notice". Al Monitor. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  33. ↑ Nidal al-Mughrabi; Nadine Awadalla (22 November 2017). "Palestinian factions agree to hold general election by end-2018". Reuters. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  34. ↑ Jack Khoury (26 September 2019). "Abbas Says He Will Announce First Palestinian Elections Since 2006". Haaretz. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  35. ↑ "Hamas says ready to join general, comprehensive elections". Xinhua. 27 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019.
  36. ↑ Rossella Tercatin (6 November 2019). "Hamas and Islamic Jihad reject Abbas's terms for Palestinian elections". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  37. ↑ Khaled Abu Toameh (11 November 2019). "Abbas: No elections without Gaza, Jerusalem; 'martyrs' are not terrorists". Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  38. ↑ "Hamas agrees to the plan for holding Palestinian elections". Middle East Monitor. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  39. ↑ "Fatah, Hamas say deal reached on Palestinian elections". Al Jazeera English. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  40. ↑ "Israel risks derailing EU election mission to Palestine". euobserver.com News. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  41. ↑ "President Abbas to chair a leadership meeting tonight to discuss the latest with elections". WAFA Agency.
  42. ↑ "Hamas warns against expected postponement of Palestinian elections". alaraby. 29 April 2021.
  43. ↑ "Palestinian parliamentary elections delayed, says Abbas, blaming Israel". Reuters. 29 April 2021.
  44. 1 2 Boxerman, Aaron (30 April 2021). "Hamas slams Abbas's decision to delay Palestinian vote as a 'coup'". toisr. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021.
  45. ↑ "Public Opinion Poll No (79)" (Press release). Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  46. ↑ "'A coup': Palestinian factions slam parliamentary poll delay". Al Jazeera English. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  47. ↑ "EU's Borrell slams Palestinian poll delay". The New Arab. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  48. ↑ "Public Opinion Poll No (80)" (Press release). Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  49. ↑ "PA's Central Elections Committee begins receiving candidate slates for Nov. 28 legislative election". The Times of Israel. 26 September 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  50. ↑ Sewell, Abby (26 September 2026). "Hamas, Islamic Jihad and a powerful ex-Fatah official form an unlikely electoral alliance". Associated Press. The Hill. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  51. ↑ Khalil, Naela (23 September 2026). "Al-Qudwa, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Dahlan join together for Palestinian elections". The New Arab. Translated by Afrah Almatwari. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  52. ↑ "Press Release: Public Opinion Poll No (97)". PCPSR.

Sources

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