Palestinian Election Alliance Forms in Cairo Including Hamas, Fatah Reformists

Sources have confirmed the formation of a political alliance in Cairo aimed at contesting the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections. The coalition reportedly includes the National Democratic Assembly, the Reform Current within Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. An official announcement is expected within the next two days.

Nasser al-Qudwa, head of the National Democratic Assembly, stated that bilateral and multilateral meetings in Cairo over the past two days resulted in understandings to form a "national, non-factional" list comprising Palestinian national figures and personalities from various backgrounds. He added that consultations would continue to finalize the political statement and participant names.

Key figures involved in the meetings included al-Qudwa, Mohammed Dahlan representing the Fatah Reform Current, Hamas politburo members Hussam Badran and Zaher Jabarin, and Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhalah. These groups, along with the Popular Front and Democratic Front, had previously met in Cairo on August 20 to discuss a broad national list for the elections.

The Popular Front requested more time to study the proposal internally and later presented a political initiative for an interim national council, which was reportedly not met with a positive response from President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah. The Popular Front's potential inclusion in the current alliance remains undecided, and communications have ceased between them and the "Alliance for Change and National Liberation" list.

Finalizing the list's names and political statement also awaits the position of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is currently imprisoned. According to a source, Barghouti is not interested in heading the legislative election list, reportedly intending to run for president instead. The alliance, however, will proceed regardless of his decision.

These developments occur as the candidacy period for the legislative elections, scheduled for November 28, approaches. The Central Elections Committee announced a 12-day candidacy window from September 26 to October 7, with nominations accepted only through electoral lists, not individual candidacies. Lists can be formed by parties, coalitions, or groups of voters and are closed, with seat distribution determined by the order of names.