Hamas, Islamic Jihad Form Electoral Alliance With Ex-PA Official Dahlan

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have agreed to form an electoral alliance with former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, who maintains close ties with the United Arab Emirates. The move, reported by the Associated Press, could challenge the dominance of Fatah, led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, should the planned general elections proceed. The elections, slated to be the first in 20 years, remain uncertain.

According to Islamic Jihad deputy secretary-general Mohammed al-Hindi, the alliance will support a "unified national list" that may include independent figures, not necessarily official representatives of the participating organizations. Dahlan, a former head of Fatah security forces, was exiled in 2010 after a severe dispute with Abbas and was previously expelled from Gaza by Hamas. He has since cultivated strong ties with the UAE, where he advises the ruler, and with U.S. and Israeli officials.

The cooperation with Dahlan is seen as unexpected given his connections to the UAE, a key player in the 2020 Abraham Accords, and to Israeli figures. The alliance appears to stem from a shared frustration with Abbas's leadership.

Dahlan's reformist-democratic current spokesperson, Dimitri Diliani, confirmed the alliance and criticized the Palestinian Authority's leadership, stating it has "disappointed Gaza and the Palestinian people everywhere." Diliani indicated that additional Palestinian organizations are joining the alliance, with efforts underway to include more factions and independent professionals around a national rehabilitation plan.

In August, Hamas announced that Dahlan and senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya met in Cairo to discuss ending the monopoly on national decision-making and formulating a comprehensive national strategy. Official sources from Hamas and Fatah did not immediately respond to AP's requests for comment.