GAZA STRIP — Hamas has stated its intention to participate in the Palestinian legislative election scheduled for November 28 as part of a broad national coalition.

Why It Matters

The scheduled election represents a significant development for the Palestinian Legislative Council, which has been inactive since 2007. The Palestinian Legislative Council elections were scheduled for November 28, 2026, as declared by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a decree issued on July 9, 2026. Hamas's participation as part of a broad national coalition could alter the political landscape that has been defined by the split between Hamas and Fatah since 2007.

In the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, Hamas secured a surprise victory over Fatah, leading to a political split and Hamas taking control of Gaza in 2007. The current intention to join the election follows a period where the organization has been isolated from formal political processes within the Palestinian Authority framework. PureSource News previously reported on related geopolitical dynamics, including criticism of UK inaction on Palestinian statehood.

Timeline

Stephen Hadley, then national security adviser to President George W. Bush, declared in October 2005: "Only when Palestinians are able freely to express themselves through ballots rather than bombs will we be able to get on the road to security for Israel." Hamas participated in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections under the party name "Change and Reform." In the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas won 44.5% of the vote and Fatah won 41.4% of the vote. Hamas won 74 of the 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in the 2006 elections. Tensions emerged between the government of Ariel Sharon and the George W. Bush administration in 2006 over whether to allow Hamas to participate in democratic elections.

What's New

Hamas was established in 1987 at the onset of the first Palestinian intifada. The State Department designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in October 1997. The Treasury Department designated Hamas as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 in October 2001. In the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, Hamas secured a surprise victory over Fatah, leading to a political split and Hamas taking control of Gaza in 2007.

The Palestinian Legislative Council elections were scheduled for November 28, 2026, as declared by Palestinian President Abbas in a decree issued on July 9, 2026. The Palestinian Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of the Palestinian Authority and was dissolved in 2007 by Hamas. The Palestinian Legislative Council's activities have been suspended since 2007, although committees continue working at a low rate and parliamentary panel discussions are still occurring. PureSource News previously reported: Thornberry Criticizes UK Inaction on Palestinian Statehood.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on details regarding the Palestinian Legislative Council elections. En.wikipedia.org states that Hamas won 74 of the 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in the 2006 elections. Desk_web reports that the Palestinian Legislative Council elections were scheduled for November 28, 2026, as declared by Palestinian President Abbas in a decree issued on July 9, 2026.

There are also differences regarding Hamas and the Palestinian Legislative Council. En.wikipedia.org notes that Hamas won 74 of the 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in the 2006 elections. Wikidata describes the Palestinian Legislative Council as the unicameral legislature of the Palestinian Authority and states it was dissolved in 2007 by Hamas.

Sources present different details on the Palestinian Legislative Council elections. The primary source indicates that Fatah won 45 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in the 2006 elections. Desk_web states that the Palestinian Legislative Council elections were scheduled for November 28, 2026, as declared by Palestinian President Abbas in a decree issued on July 9, 2026.

Reports differ on the dynamic between Hamas and Fatah. Desk_web states that in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, Hamas secured a surprise victory over Fatah, leading to a political split and Hamas taking control of Gaza in 2007. The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll from October 2025 shows that among those who said they would vote in an election, Hamas led Fatah 29% to 20%.