Palestinians Anticipate Abbas Setting Date for Elections

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Reuters file photo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Reuters file photo
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Palestinians Anticipate Abbas Setting Date for Elections

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Reuters file photo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Reuters file photo

Independent Palestinian political researchers and analysts predicted that President Mahmoud Abbas will set a date for upcoming legislative and presidential elections on Oct. 3.

Aref Jaffal, General Director of the Arab World Marsad for Democratic Reform and Election, told AFP that Abbas, according to intel obtained through calls with officials, will issue a presidential decree on Oct. 3 for holding elections.

The decree will be issued before Abbas meeting with representatives of Palestinian factions.

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) revealed that it is prepared to hold polls as soon as the presidential decree is issued and confirmed that it needs 110 days to complete the first phase of elections.

CEC Director Hisham Kahil said that the commission is ready for both legislative and presidential polls, but it is waiting for Abbas’ order.

“CEC Chairman Hanna Nasser informed Abbas of the details on organizing elections, issuing the timeline, registering voters and holding electoral campaigns,” Kahil told the official Palestinian news agency.

Gaza rulers Hamas and their rivals in the occupied West Bank, Fatah, have agreed to unify Palestinian ranks and hold the first elections in nearly 15 years.

Abbas, since the start of Sept., has met with representatives and officials of Palestinian factions and informed them of all the decisions to be made by commissions assigned with ending Palestinian divisions and unifying the national stance.

For the first time in 13 years, a meeting brought together Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Fatah leader Abbas.

In their final statement, the conferees agreed on forming a committee of influential and trustworthy national figures whose mission is to develop, within no more than five weeks, a strategic vision to end the inter-Palestinian division and achieve political partnership.

They also agreed to establish a national committee to lead the comprehensive popular resistance against the Israeli occupation.



Israel Expands ‘Security Annexation’ in Gaza

Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)
Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)
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Israel Expands ‘Security Annexation’ in Gaza

Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)
Palestinians inspect a United Nations building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on April 2, 2025 (Associated Press)

As Israel expanded its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked Palestinian outrage by entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he plans to seize large areas of land in Gaza and turn them into “security zones,” as well as in the West Bank to bolster Jewish settlements.

On Wednesday, Katz announced that Israeli forces would move into the Gaza Strip "to cleanse areas of terrorists and infrastructure" and seize large swaths of land to expand Israel's security zones.

The statement followed the deployment of an additional Israeli brigade in southern Gaza as part of an escalation in the offensive. The Israeli army’s Radio reported that the 36th Armored Division is leading the new ground operation in Gaza.

The Israeli military also ordered the complete evacuation of the Rafah area along the southern Gaza border, initiating incursions in the region, including targeting vast areas between Rafah and Khan Younis. This marks the largest evacuation order since Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire.

Field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israeli forces have effectively taken control of areas in Rafah and are attempting to push further into other parts of the city, making it largely under their control.

The sources added that the incursion has begun in certain areas, while the military maintains fire control over others. It is expected that the forces will reach these areas at any moment, including parts of the southeastern region of Khan Younis, which lies close to Rafah.

In a provocative move, Ben-Gvir led an incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday. Since taking office as National Security Minister, Ben-Gvir has entered the site more than eight times, a move that has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the incursion, under the protection of Israeli police, and the eviction of worshippers. The Kingdom reiterated its condemnation of Israel's ongoing flagrant violations of the mosque's sanctity.

In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia also condemned the Israeli forces’ targeting of a clinic run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The Kingdom expressed its concern over the continued Israeli attacks on UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and their workers.

Saudi Arabia emphasized the need to protect UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and their personnel, urging the international community to take action to end Israel's relentless military actions, which disregard human values and international laws.

The Kingdom warned that the international community’s failure to deter such grave and persistent violations would undermine the prospects for achieving lasting peace, erode the credibility and legitimacy of international law, and negatively affect regional and global security and stability.