Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has announced the first parliamentary and presidential elections in 15 years.

A decree issued by the Palestinian Authority (PA) said legislative elections in the  West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem would take place on May 22 with a presidential vote on July 31.

Hamas issued a statement saying they welcomed the announcement. “We have worked in the past months to resolve all obstacles so that we can reach this day,” it  said.

The statement called for fair elections in which “electorates can express their will without restrictions or pressures”.

President Abbas is facing a possible challenge from Mohammed Dahlan, a former PA security commander in the Gaza Strip who fled to the UAE after falling out with him.

He was expelled from Fatah amid allegations that he was behind the “assassination” of former PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, who died in November 2004.

On Saturday, reports in Israel said Mr Dahlan would be barred from standing in the election because of claims he is a convicted criminal.

President Abbas fears staging elections amid divisions and internal bickering – one of the main reasons Fatah was defeated by Hamas in Gaza during the previous 2006 election.

Palestinian factions have attempted to  present a united front since Israel reached diplomatic agreements last year with four Arab countries.

The accords have left the Palestinians increasingly isolated in the region.

President Abbas will hope the announcement of elections ahead of the inauguration of the US president-elect Joe Biden can improve relations with America.