Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh has informed France that a Palestinian legislative election planned for November 28 will be postponed for several months because of worsening conditions throughout the Palestinian territories, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
“The assessment concluded that the anticipated political, security and economic conditions, on which the scheduling of the legislative elections for 28 November 2026 was based, have not materialized,” said the letter, which was addressed to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and dated October 8.
It added that “holding them under the current circumstances faces fundamental obstacles affecting their inclusiveness, freedom of participation and the integrity of the electoral process.”
There had been serious doubts that the Palestinian Authority vote would go ahead in late November. The Palestinians have not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-06, after which Abbas’ rival, the Islamist terror group Hamas, seized control of Gaza, ousting his loyalists.
Some officials within Abbas’ Fatah party have demanded dialog with Hamas and other factions to agree on a common national vision before proceeding with a vote. Others have cited obstructions to ballot boxes, election papers, and ink entering Gaza, which they say would make voting impossible.
Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh meets diplomatic delegation in Ramallah Wednesday, 24th June 2026 (credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)PA expected improved conditions through Trump peace plan
The letter said Palestinian officials had expected conditions to improve through the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative and a UN Security Council resolution, including the deployment of international forces and Palestinian police in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
It said the Palestinians had also anticipated US efforts to prevent further annexation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, curb settler violence, and secure the release of nearly $7 billion in Palestinian funds withheld by Israel.
“However, these steps, understandings and promises have not materialized. Rather, conditions have worsened throughout the Palestinian territory,” the letter said, outlining in detail security issues in Gaza and the West Bank.
Based on their assessment, Palestinian officials recommended to Abbas “that the date of the legislative elections be adjusted by several months, and that dialog continue to prepare the internal conditions,” the letter said.
The letter was addressed to France after it recognized a Palestinian state in September 2025. As part of that decision France had urged that the planned legislative and presidential elections proceed.
Israel allegedly blocks PA elections commission from east Jerusalem, Gaza
On Wednesday, Israel allegedly blocked the Palestinian Central Elections Commission from entering east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip to monitor the November 28 elections, a Palestinian Authority official told the PA’s official WAFA news agency, as European Commission Vice President and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas renewed Europe’s commitment to deploying an election observation mission.
Though the CEC has yet to issue an official statement on the alleged block, CEC spokesperson Farid Taamallah confirmed the report to Agence France-Presse and insisted that the elections could still go ahead.
Taamallah has not yet responded to The Jerusalem Post’s request.
Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.