Abbas Decrees First Palestinian Legislative Vote in 20 Years for Nov. 28
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 14
Abbas Decrees First Palestinian Legislative Vote in 20 Years for Nov. 28
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 14
Summary
Mahmoud Abbas on July 9 set Palestinian legislative elections for Nov. 28, marking the first such vote in 20 years and a rare formal political step amid the Gaza war.
The decree is widely seen as a response to international pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority, coming days after Gaza’s Hamas-run government said it would resign for a technocratic committee.
Major obstacles remain: Israel has not allowed voting in occupied East Jerusalem, Gaza’s infrastructure is devastated, and the population registry is outdated.
The election move comes as Gaza’s post-ceasefire death toll reached at least 1,108 and aid conditions remained dire, with UN data showing food parcels for 53,500 people met only 75% of minimum caloric needs.
Across the West Bank, annexation and settler violence also intensified, with a July 7 report documenting 185 new outposts since 2023 and OCHA recording more than 1,200 settler incidents in 2026.
Gaza's development was set back 77 years. How can a society rebuild when its hospitals, homes, and farms are systematically destroyed?
As illegal settlements expand at an 'unprecedented pace,' is the de facto annexation of the West Bank now irreversible?
With 'safe zones' under attack and aid workers killed, has the concept of protected spaces in modern conflict completely collapsed?
Palestine’s First Legislative Elections in 20 Years: Challenges, Divisions, and the Fight for Democratic Renewal in 2026
Overview
On July 9, 2026, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree calling for legislative elections, marking the first such vote in two decades for the Palestinian territories. This move aims to elect representatives for the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, opening a new political chapter after a long period without a popular mandate. The decision comes amid significant pressure and overwhelming demand among Palestinians for leadership change, as shown by recent polls. Alongside strong domestic calls for renewal, there is also an international push for greater legitimacy and reform, highlighting the urgent need for a more representative government.