List of Presidents of Palestine: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Palestine from 1994 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Palestine, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas (in office since 2005). The State of Palestine is recognised by about 150 countries, and its president also heads the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, while Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007. Mahmoud Abbas's four-year mandate expired in 2009, and no presidential election has been held since 2005; an election has been announced for 11 September 2027.

Presidents of Palestine in order, with years in office

Yasser Arafat

Served: 1994–2004

PLO chairman from 1969 and president of the State of Palestine from 1989; he led the Palestinian Authority from 1994, was elected its president in January 1996 and died on 11 November 2004.

Rawhi Fattouh

Served: 2004–2005 (acting)

Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council who acted as president after Arafat's death, until Abbas was elected.

Mahmoud Abbas

Served: 2005–present

Elected in January 2005 and in office since; his vice president Hussein al-Sheikh, appointed in April 2025, is designated to serve as interim president if the office falls vacant.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Palestine

Who is the current president of Palestine?

The current head of state of Palestine is Mahmoud Abbas, in office since 2005. The State of Palestine is recognised by about 150 countries, and its president also heads the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, while Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007. Mahmoud Abbas's four-year mandate expired in 2009, and no presidential election has been held since 2005; an election has been announced for 11 September 2027.

Who were the previous presidents of Palestine?

The presidents and heads of state of Palestine listed on this page, in order, are: Yasser Arafat, Rawhi Fattouh, Mahmoud Abbas.

Who was the first president of Palestine?

Yasser Arafat was the first president of Palestine, in office 1994–2004.

Sources: Wikipedia, President of the State of Palestine; Associated Press, AFP, The New Arab and Middle East Forum reports on Abbas and the succession arrangements, including October 2026 reporting (checked Nov 2026). Presidents of the Palestinian Authority and of the State of Palestine since 1994; the acting president of 2004–2005 is labelled.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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