Key Facts

• The first Palestinian legislative elections in 20 years were scheduled for June 2026 but postponed to September 2027.
• Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi called the delay a "terrible disappointment" for young Palestinians who have never voted.
• Sinijlawi said the postponement reflects a refusal to change by older Palestinian leaders.
• President Mahmoud Abbas promised French President Emmanuel Macron and others to hold elections by June 2026.
• France led 15 countries to recognize a Palestinian state based on reforms and elections.
• Sinijlawi named Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh as a main figure behind the postponement.
• The activist warned that countries donating money to Palestine might reconsider funding if elections do not happen.
• The issue relates to broader Israeli-Palestinian tensions and questions about political reforms within Palestinian leadership.