Mahmoud Abbas, the 90-year-old Palestinian Authority president and Fatah leader, continues to consolidate power through internal party structures despite widespread speculation about his eventual departure. In mid-May 2026, the Fatah congress unanimously re-elected him as movement head and advanced his son Yasser to the central committee, while Abbas pledged reforms and long-delayed presidential and legislative elections without setting a timeline. Earlier succession steps, including the late-2025 designation of Hussein al-Sheikh as interim vice president in case of vacancy, remain in place amid stable reported health and no public retirement signals. These developments, set against stalled broader elections and post-Gaza war pressures, frame trader assessments of any near-term exit.