Hamas, Islamic Jihad May Back Rival to Abu Mazen in Palestinian Elections

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movement have reportedly agreed to form an electoral alliance with former Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan, aiming to weaken Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ahead of scheduled Palestinian elections. According to sources speaking to Israel's Channel 12 News, any support provided by Hamas and Islamic Jihad to Dahlan's list would be external, with no direct members of the groups appearing on his slate.

Dahlan, who was once a senior figure in the Palestinian security services and Fatah before falling out with Abbas and leaving the Palestinian territories in 2010, has reportedly set a condition that his electoral list will not include individuals directly affiliated with Hamas. Despite this, the possibility of external backing from the militant groups remains.

The potential alliance, if realized, would unite long-standing rivals against a common objective: undermining Abbas. This move has been confirmed by Islamic Jihad deputy secretary-general Mohammed al-Hindi, who told the Associated Press that the alliance would support a "unified national list" potentially comprising independent figures rather than official party members. A spokesperson for Dahlan's "Democratic Reformist Current" also confirmed the efforts to bring additional factions and independents into the fold.

This rapprochement between Dahlan and Hamas has been visible in recent months, including a meeting between Dahlan and senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya two months prior. Hamas stated at the time that the discussion focused on ending the "monopoly on national decision-making and formulating a comprehensive national strategy."

However, the overarching question remains whether the elections, scheduled for November 28 after a 20-year hiatus, will actually take place. Most Palestinian commentators anticipate that Abbas will postpone them again, with only seven lists registered so far. Many politicians and lists are reportedly waiting until the last moment, expecting a cancellation and unwilling to reveal their strategies prematurely. Abbas previously postponed elections in 2021, and the last general elections in 2006 saw Hamas emerge victorious, leading to international sanctions and Hamas's subsequent takeover of Gaza in 2007.