Hamas to join Palestinian elections under broad coalition

Hamas Political Bureau member Hussam Badran said Wednesday that the group will participate in upcoming Palestinian elections under the broadest possible national coalition, rejecting any attempt to impose political conditions on candidates as President Mahmoud Abbas scheduled legislative polls for November 2026.

'No political conditions'

In an interview with Al-Aqsa TV, Badran stated that Hamas and most Palestinian factions oppose requiring participants to adopt specific political programs. He noted that the Palestinian Central Elections Commission and judiciary are working to ensure Palestinians can freely choose their representatives.

"We oppose imposing political conditions or requiring participants to adopt a specific political program," Badran said, emphasizing that electoral integrity requires an open field without ideological prerequisites.

'Historic opportunity'

Badran described the elections as a "historic opportunity" to reshape the Palestinian political landscape and end what he called "two decades of unilateral decision-making on national affairs." He accused the current Palestinian leadership of unilaterally determining the timing and procedures for the upcoming vote.

He contrasted the current approach with the 2006 and 2021 elections, which he said followed detailed national consensus. "The elections were long overdue," he added, arguing that the leadership had bypassed collective deliberation in setting the November 2026 date.

Election timeline

President Abbas announced last week that legislative elections will be held on Nov. 28, 2026, followed by the convening of the National Council and presidential elections in 2027. Badran asserted that Palestinians have an "inherent right" to choose their leaders through legislative ballots or via the Palestinian National Council, which he described as the "broader representative body for Palestinians."

The Palestinian Legislative Council has been inactive since 2007 following the political split and Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip — where Israel has waged a war since October 2023. Abbas dissolved the council in 2018, and the last legislative elections were held in 2006, leaving the system divided between Hamas-administered Gaza and Fatah-controlled West Bank.