Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the Palestinian National Council will hold elections on November 1, 2026, the first in which council members will be elected by vote rather than appointed.

Axar.az, citing JP, reports that Abbas stated that voting will occur “wherever possible, both inside and outside Palestine,” though details for overseas voting remain unclear.

The Palestinian National Council has not convened since 2018 and holds less power than the PLO Executive Committee. The announcement comes alongside dates for Fatah’s Eighth General Conference in May and West Bank local elections in April. Abbas recently decreed that Hamas is banned from participating in municipal elections.

Recent surveys indicate declining support for Fatah and Abbas, with many Palestinians expressing distrust in the Palestinian Authority.