The Palestinian Authority has accused Israel of blocking access for electoral officials to Jerusalem and Gaza, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Israel reportedly denied entry to representatives of the Central Election Commission in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections, scheduled for November 28. These elections are set to occur a month after the Israeli legislative elections. Many Palestinians believe the vote may be postponed or canceled, as had happened in 2021. Wafa reported that the Israeli government has refused to allow the Central Election Commission to enter the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem to oversee election preparations. The Israeli Defense Ministry and COGAT, the body responsible for civil affairs in Palestinian territories, did not respond to requests for confirmation from the French news agency AFP. Farid Taamallah, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Central Election Commission, told AFP that the commission was still working to organize the elections. "The commission continues to organize the electoral process despite the Israeli decision," he said, adding that the commission's staff in Gaza had already been trained and were on the ground. The European Union, a major financial supporter of the Palestinian Authority and a strong advocate for holding elections, said it was "prepared to deploy" election observers. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated on X that "Palestinians have the right to choose their representatives in credible, inclusive, and transparent elections" after speaking with Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Cheikh. In early September, senior Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub told journalists that the elections would not take place on the scheduled date. A survey by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center in August found that only 29% of Palestinians expect the November elections to happen as planned. The last legislative elections in Palestinian territories were held in 2006, when Hamas, which now controls Gaza, defeated Fatah, the dominant force in the West Bank. Since the split between the two groups in 2007, the Palestinian Legislative Council, which functions as a parliament, has not convened. Mahmoud Abbas, who became president in 2005, has remained in power despite the expiration of his term in 2009, governing by decree. In June, the 90-year-old leader signed a decree calling for a presidential election in early 2027. In 2021, Abbas had called for both legislative and presidential elections, but they were indefinitely postponed due to concerns about organizing them in East Jerusalem, which Israel has annexed. Holding elections is a key requirement set by international donors to the Palestinian Authority.