Palestinian election officials have recommended that January's presidential election be called off.

Hanna Nasser, chairman of the Palestinian election commission, made the call, saying the rival Hamas group that controls the Gaza Strip won't cooperate in a vote.

"We planned to go to Gaza to figure out how we can conduct elections there," he said. "In the meantime, we received an answer from Hamas that we are not welcome in Gaza. It is clear now that we cannot hold an election in Gaza."

Calling off the upcoming vote would also allow President Mahmoud Abbas to stay in power indefinitely.

Abbas recently vowed not to seek re-election because of frustration with the White House-brokered peace process.