Gaza Herald – Political analysts have suggested that the Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for November 28 could be postponed again, despite official assurances that the first such vote in two decades will proceed as planned.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree on July 9, 2026, setting Saturday, November 28, as election day in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The Central Elections Commission has since begun implementing the official electoral timetable.
The vote would be the first Palestinian legislative election since 2006. Previous elections scheduled for 2021 were postponed, with Abbas citing Israel’s refusal to allow Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem to participate under the existing arrangements.
Despite preparations for the November vote, some Palestinian analysts believe political divisions, Israeli restrictions and the devastating conditions in Gaza could complicate or ultimately delay the process.
Fadi Zuhair, a media professor at An-Najah National University in Nablus, told Sana Agency that postponement remains possible because of questions about political legitimacy, internal Palestinian divisions, and international pressure.
Zuhair argued that the absence of legislative elections for two decades has seriously weakened the legitimacy of Palestinian political institutions. While elections are necessary to restore public representation, he said the extraordinary conditions facing Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, could make holding a comprehensive vote extremely difficult.
He also pointed to concerns within Fatah over potential electoral alliances involving rival Palestinian factions and political currents, which could complicate the movement’s prospects in a new legislative contest.
Political affairs analyst Sam Awfieh similarly argued that another postponement remains possible, pointing to Israeli restrictions as one of the major obstacles. He noted that the inability to hold elections in occupied Jerusalem was cited as the principal reason for postponing the 2021 vote and could again become a central issue.
Awfieh also highlighted internal divisions within Fatah, arguing that competing electoral lists could weaken the movement in any future vote.
The political debate comes as Palestinians face Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, expanding settlements and settler attacks in the occupied West Bank, and intensified Israeli measures in occupied Jerusalem, creating significant practical challenges for holding elections across the Palestinian territories.
The electoral framework has also changed. Amendments issued by Abbas in June increased the Palestinian Legislative Council to 200 seats, lowered the electoral threshold to 1%, reduced the minimum candidacy age and introduced requirements intended to increase women’s representation.
For now, however, no official postponement has been announced. The Central Elections Commission continues to prepare for the November 28 vote, while Abbas has publicly reaffirmed that the elections will take place on schedule.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
