Hamas and Islamic Jihad Form Electoral Alliance With Mohammed Dahlan
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have agreed to form an electoral coalition with former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, challenging Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have agreed to form an unexpected electoral coalition with Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah official often tipped for a key role in the Gaza Strip for the "day after". This was reported on Tuesday by the AP news agency, citing Palestinian sources.
Dahlan maintains close ties with the United Arab Emirates and has held extensive contacts throughout the war with American and Israeli officials. The surprising alliance between him and the terror organizations could threaten the dominance of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, though only if the first national elections in 20 years actually take place—something that remains highly doubtful.
Electoral Alliance and Political Implications
Abbas stated that parliamentary elections will be held on November 28 in Gaza and the West Bank, but he has repeatedly delayed elections in the past—most recently in 2021, when Fatah appeared headed for defeat.
Mohammed al-Hindi, deputy secretary-general of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, confirmed the establishment of the electoral alliance in an interview with AP from Istanbul on Monday. He said the alliance will support a "unified national list" that may consist of independent figures rather than members of the organizations.
The Palestinian Authority has failed Gaza and the Palestinian people everywhere.
Background on Mohammed Dahlan
The bloc will include a faction led by Dahlan, the former Fatah security chief who went into exile in 2010 following a bitter dispute with Abbas—and after previously being expelled from Gaza by Hamas. Since then, Dahlan has cultivated close ties with the United Arab Emirates, where he serves as an adviser to the ruler.
