Israel Refuses Entry to Palestinian Election Committee to Gaza and Jerusalem

On July 9, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting November 28 as the date for legislative elections in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, to be the first of its kind since 2006, if held.

On September 26, the Elections Committee began receiving applications for the registration of electoral lists, and received applications for the registration of 8 lists during the first four days, while applications continue to be received until October 13.

Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh stated in a meeting with journalists on August 2 that if the elections could not be held "due to the prevention or obstruction of their conduct in the Gaza Strip or any other part of the Palestinian territories, the alternative plan is to form the National Council by consensus, considering the Palestine Liberation Organization as the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people."

The number of Palestinians eligible to vote is about 2.97 million, including about 1.59 million in the West Bank, 1.24 million in the Gaza Strip, and about 140,000 Jerusalem ID holders.

The last Palestinian legislative elections were held in 2006, followed by the Palestinian political division between the "Fatah" and "Hamas" movements, which won the majority of seats and took control of the Gaza Strip after about a year, while the Palestinian Authority led by the "Fatah" movement remained in the West Bank.

Since 2007, the work of the Palestinian Legislative Council has been suspended, and the Supreme Constitutional Court issued a decision to dissolve it in 2018.