The 2nd Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) served as the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, established following the 2006 legislative election, in which 132 members were elected on 25 January 2006. The PLC was intended to operate for a four-year term, with its mandate set to conclude on 25 January 2010 as per the Basic Law.
The Council held its first meeting on 18 February 2006, where Aziz Dweik was elected as Speaker. However, it ceased to function in plenary sessions after the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip and the subsequent dismissal of the Hamas-led Second Haniyeh Government by the President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas on 14 June 2007.
On 28 March 2006, the Palestinian Legislative Council held a vote of confidence for the First Haniyeh Government, led by Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, following Hamas' victory in the 2006 election. After a year of political tensions and negotiations which led to the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement, the Second Haniyeh Government, a National Unity Government, was approved by the PLC, though nearly one-third of its members were absent from the session. Following the dismissal of the cabinet by President Mahmoud Abbas, he appointed Third Way co-leader Salam Fayyad as Prime Minister. However, Fayyad's government was unable to secure a proper vote of confidence, as both Fatah and Hamas boycotted the parliamentary session in Ramallah on 22 June 2007. None of the subsequent governments received the required vote of confidence from the Palestinian Legislative Council, as mandated by the Basic Law, and were instead established through presidential decrees.
On 22 December 2018, the Palestinian Legislative Council was officially dissolved by Abbas, following a ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court, which also called for elections for the 3rd PLC to be held within six months from the date of publishing the decision in the Official Gazette. However, Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, rejected the legitimacy of the dissolution, and no new elections have been held since.
The terms of all PLC members officially ended with the council's dissolution, but the legitimacy of this action remains contested due to the ongoing political division between the West Bank, governed by the Palestinian Authority, and the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas.
Votes of confidence in the Council of Ministers Vote of confidenceNomination of the First Haniyeh Government Ballot → 28 March 2006 Required majority → 67 out of 132 Abstentions Absentees Sources:
Vote of confidenceNomination of the Second Haniyeh Government Ballot → 17 March 2007 Required majority → 67 out of 132 Yes No Abstentions Absentees Sources:
Bureau of the Council
According to Article 4 of the Bylaw of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Bureau (also known as Office) consists of the Speaker, two Deputy-Speakers, and the Secretary-General, all of whom are elected by the Council through a secret ballot at the beginning of each session. The Bureau's term lasts until the opening day of the next regular session. If any position within the Bureau becomes vacant during this period, the Council holds an election to choose a successor.
Since plenary sessions of the full Palestinian Legislative Council have not been held since 2007, a new Bureau has not been lawfully elected in accordance with the Council's procedures. As a result, the Bureau elected in 2006 continues to consider itself as remaining in office.
Leader Party Term Speaker Aziz Dweik Hamas First Deputy Speaker Ahmad Bahar Hamas Vacant – Second Deputy Speaker Hasan Khreisheh Independent Secretary-General Ibrahim Shaker Khreisha Fatah Sources: PLC Bylaw of the PLC of 2003
Composition In the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, Fatah, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, lost 5 seats and its 10-year long status as the largest party in the PLC. Hamas formed a majority government led by Chairman Ismail Haniyeh, having won 74 seats under the Change and Reform list. Other parties, including the Palestinian National Initiative and Third Way, won seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council for the first time.
PartyBloc Leader (2006)Living Members Elected inJanuary 2006 September2026 Change Ismail Haniyeh7463 11 Azzam al-Ahmad4539 6 Jamil MajdalawiKhalida Jarrar33 Qais Abd al-KarimBassam as-Salhi22 Mustafa Barghouti21 1 Salam FayyadHanan Ashrawi2 2 –43 1Vacant –019 19Total –132113 19
List of members This is a list of all 132 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) originally elected in 2006, organized by electoral district.Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council As of 31 December 2010, 16 members had been imprisoned by Israeli authorities. Currently, at least 15 members are reported to be deceased.
Members elected by plurality block voting
Constituency Member Party StatusThe Palestinian parliament is in jail! IOF troops kidnap leader of Palestinian parliament [Archive] – Al-Qassam English Forum Name in EnglishName in Arabic Bethlehem Governorate(4 seats) Khaled Tafesh خالد إبراهيم طافش ذويب Hamas Detained in IsraelHamas calls for PA to walk away from Jordan talks, 22 January 2012. Mahmoud Al-Khatib محمود داود محمود الخطيب Hamas Fuad Kokaly (Christian quota) فؤاد كريم صليبا كوكالي Fatah Fayiz Al-Saqqa (Christian quota) فايز أنطون إلياس السقا Fatah Deir al-Balah Governorate(3 seats) Abd al-Rahman al-Jamal عبد الرحمن يوسف أحمد الجمل Hamas Ahmad Abu Holi أحمد حسن عواد أبو هولي Fatah Salem Ahmed Abdel Hadi Salama سالم أحمد عبد الهادي سلامة Hamas Gaza City Governorate(8 seats) Said Seyam سعيد محمد شعبان صيام Hamas Assassinated by Israel in 2009 Ahmad Bahar أحمد محمد عطية بحر Hamas First Deputy SpeakerAssassinated by Israel in 2023 Khalil al-Hayya خليل إسماعيل إبراهيم الحية Hamas Muhammad Faraj al-Ghul محمد فرج محمود حسين الغول Hamas Assassinated by Israel in 2025 Jamal Talab Mohammed Saleh جمال طلب محمد صالح Hamas Jamal al-Khudari جمال ناجي شحادة الخضري Independent Ziad Abu Amr زياد محمود حسين أبو عمرو Independent Husam al-Tawil (Christian quota) حسام فؤاد كمال يعقوب الطويل Independent Deceased since 2012 Hebron Governorate(9 seats) Nayef Rajoub نايف محمود محمد الرجوب Hamas Samir al-Kadi سمير صالح إبراهيم القاضي Hamas Aziz Dweik عزيز سالم مرتضى الدويك Hamas Speaker of the PLC Azzam Salhab عزام نعمان عبد الرحمن سلهب Hamas Detained in Israel Muhammad Abu Jhesheh محمد مطلق عبد المهدي أبو جحيشة Hamas Nizar Ramadan نزار عبد العزيز عبد الحميد رمضان Hamas Detained in Israel Hatem Qafisha حاتم رباح رشيد قفيشة Hamas Basim Za'rir باسم أحمد موسى زعارير Hamas Detained in Israel Muhammad al-Til محمد إسماعيل عثمان الطل Hamas Detained in Israel North Gaza Governorate(5 seats) Yusuf al-Shrafi يوسف عواد يوسف الشرافي Hamas Mushir al-Habil مشير عمر خميس الحبل Hamas Muhammad Abid Hadi Shihab محمد عبد الهادي عبد الرحمن محمد شهاب Hamas 'Atif 'Udwan عاطف إبراهيم محمد عدوان Hamas Ismail al-Ashqar إسماعيل عبد اللطيف محمد الأشقر Hamas Jenin Governorate(4 seats) Khalid Yahya خالد عبد عبد الله يحيى Hamas Azzam al-Ahmad عزام نجيب مصطفى الأحمد Fatah Head of Fatah bloc Khalid Abu Hasan خالد سليمان فايز أبو حسن Hamas Shami Shami شامي يوسف محمد شامي Fatah Jericho Governorate(1 seat) Saeb Erekat صائب محمد صالح عريقات Fatah Deceased since 2020 Jerusalem Governorate(6 seats) Ibrahim Abu Salim إبراهيم سعيد حسن أبو سالم Hamas Muhammad Tutah محمد عمران صالح طوطح Hamas Imprisoned in JerusalemIsrael arrests two more elected parliamentarians in Jerusalem, 23 January 2012. Wa'il al-Husayni وائل محمد عبد الفتاح عبد الرحمن Hamas Ahmad Attun أحمد محمد أحمد عطون Hamas Detained in Israel Imil Jarjoui (Christian quota) إميل موسى باسيل جرجوعي Fatah Deceased since 2007 Ivivian Sabella (Christian quota) إفيفيان زكريا عبد الله سابيلا Fatah Khan Yunis Governorate(5 seats) Muhammad Dahlan محمد يوسف شاكر دحلان Fatah Yunis Al Astal يونس محيي الدين فايز الأسطل Hamas Salah al-Bardawil صلاح محمد إبراهيم البردويل Hamas Assassinated by Israel in 2025 Khamis Najjar خميس جودت خميس النجار Hamas Assassinated by Israel in 2023 Sufyan al-Agha سفيان عبد الله يوسف الأغا Fatah Deceased since 2007 Nablus Governorate(6 seats) Ahmad Ahmad أحمد علي أحمد أحمد Hamas Hamid Kdayr حامد سليمان جبر خضير Hamas Deceased since 2012 Mahmoud Aloul محمود عثمان راغب العالول Fatah Riyad 'Amla رياض علي مصطفى عملي Hamas Husni Burini Yasin حسني محمد أحمد بوريني ياسين Hamas Dawud Abu Sayr داود كمال داود أبو سير Hamas Qalqilya Governorate(2 seats) Walid Assaf وليد محمود محمد عساف Fatah Ahmad Shraym أحمد هزاع إبراهيم شريم Fatah Rafah Governorate(3 seats) Muhammad Hijazi محمد سليمان موسى حجازي Fatah Ashraf Juma' أشرف مصطفى محمد جمعة Fatah Radwan al-Akhras رمضان سعيد سليمان الأخرس Fatah Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate(5 seats) Hasan Dar Khalil حسن يوسف داود دار خليل Hamas Fadil Fadil Hamdan فضل محمد صالح حمدان Hamas Detained in Israel Ahmad Mubarak أحمد عبد العزيز صالح مبارك Fatah Detained in Israel Mahmud Muslih محمود إبراهيم محمود مصلح Hamas Deceased since 2022 Muhib Salame (Christian quota) مهيب سلامة عبد الله سلامة Fatah Salfit Governorate(1 seat) Nasir 'Abd al-Jawwad ناصر عبد الله عودة عبد الجواد Hamas Tubas Governorate(1 seat) Khalid Abu Tu'as خالد حمد حامد أبو طوس Hamas Tulkarm Governorate(3 seats) Hasan 'Abd al-Fattah Khraysha حسن عبد الفتاح عبد الحليم خريشي Independent Second Deputy Speaker Abdel Rahman Zeidan عبد الرحمن فهمي عبد الرحمن زيدان Hamas Detained in Israel Riyad Raddad رياض محمود سعيد رداد Hamas
Members elected by party-list proportional representation