Gaza city: The first two representatives of the Palestinian community in Kuwait were elected to the new Palestinian National Council (PNC) from abroad, marking the first election of its kind following President Mahmoud Abbas' decision on July 19, 2025, to hold elections for a new National Council.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Hisham Ibrahim and Saleh Qannam secured seats on the new council after receiving the highest number of votes in an election conducted under the electoral college system. The election saw participation from nine candidates.
The election was held at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Kuwait during a meeting of the Follow-up Committee for the Palestinian National Council Elections in Kuwait. This committee includes Fatah Central Committee member Yasser Abbas and Palestinian Central Council member Ahmad Assaf, along with representatives of the Palestinian community. The event was also attended by Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait Rami Tahboub.
The meeting commenced with the recitation of Al-Fatiha and a moment of silence to honor the martyrs of Palestine. This was followed by the playing of the Palestinian and Kuwaiti national anthems. An election committee was subsequently formed, and nominations were opened for membership in the new Palestinian National Council representing Palestinians abroad.
The Follow-up Committee for the National Council Elections has outlined that the selection of council members abroad will proceed through several tracks. These include direct elections among Palestinian communities in countries where such voting is feasible. In cases where direct elections cannot occur, the electoral college system will be utilized in line with the National Council's electoral regulations. If neither elections nor an electoral college can be organized, a consensus will be pursued under the approved National Council election system.