Abbas postpones Palestinian elections, sets presidential poll for September 2027

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed legislative elections, which were due to take place next month, until September 11, 2027. He has also called a presidential poll for the same date. According to reports from France 24, Investing.com, South China Morning Post, RTE News, and CBS News, Abbas cited obstacles posed by Israeli measures and the security situation in the Palestinian territories as the reason for the delay.

The decree, as reported by multiple outlets including Investing.com and RTE News, called on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza to vote. The Palestinian Authority has not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-2006. After the 2005-2006 elections, Hamas seized control of Gaza, ousting Abbas' loyalists. Abbas has ruled by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009.

The postponement, as noted by CBS News, leaves entrenched Palestinian leaders unchallenged and threatens to further erode the Palestinian Authority's credibility. The decree cited Israeli military attacks, settlement expansion, settler violence, and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as Israel's continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, as challenges to preparing for and holding elections.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Investing.com, South China Morning Post, RTE News, CBS News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.