Mahmoud Abbas, who is 90 years old, announced that the presidential and legislative elections initially set for November 28, 2025, will now be held on September 11, 2027. This marks the first potential general election since 2006.
In January 2006, Hamas won the legislative elections across the Palestinian territories. That vote remains the most recent nationwide election held.
Following a split between Hamas and Fatah in June 2007, Gaza has been under Hamas control while the West Bank has been administered by Fatah. This division has persisted ever since.
In 2021, elections were also indefinitely postponed for the same reason—denial of access to East Jerusalem and Gaza by Israeli authorities.
Abbas was elected president in 2005.
Palestinian authorities have said that Israeli officials are refusing Palestinian electoral officials access to East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, which prompted the postponement.
International pressure, including from the European Union, had encouraged the Palestinian Authority to move forward with electoral reforms before the delay was announced.
In 2021, elections were also indefinitely postponed for the same reason—denial of access to East Jerusalem and Gaza by Israeli authorities.
On October 10, 2025, Abbas made public the decision to move the vote to September 11, 2027, setting a new target date after the original November 2025 schedule.
Because the last general election was in 2006, the upcoming vote would be the first opportunity in over two decades for Palestinians to choose their leaders through a nationwide ballot.