Hamas, Islamic Jihad May Back Dahlan Against Abbas in Palestinian Elections

Hamas and Islamic Jihad are reportedly considering forming an electoral bloc with Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah official living in exile, with the primary aim of weakening Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The alliance, if realized, would see Hamas and Islamic Jihad externally supporting Dahlan's list, which would include independent candidates rather than official faction representatives, according to Palestinian sources cited by Associated Press. Islamic Jihad's deputy secretary-general, Mohammad al-Hindi, confirmed the alliance's creation to AP, stating it would back a "unified national list."

Sources speaking to Israel's Channel 12 clarified that Dahlan himself opposes including Hamas-affiliated individuals on his list. Dahlan, once a powerful Fatah figure and head of security forces in Gaza, left the Palestinian Authority in 2010 after a falling out with Abbas. He currently advises the ruler of the United Arab Emirates. Dimitri Diliani, a representative of Dahlan's Democratic Reformist Movement, confirmed ongoing negotiations and efforts to attract other factions and independent politicians to the bloc.

Dahlan's engagement with Hamas has moved beyond behind-the-scenes discussions, including a meeting two months prior with senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya. At that time, Hamas stated the discussions focused on ending the "monopoly on national decision-making" and developing a unified national strategy.

The central uncertainty remains whether the Palestinian elections, scheduled for November 28, will proceed. If held, they would be the first parliamentary vote in the Palestinian Authority in two decades. However, many observers anticipate Abbas may postpone them again, as he did in 2021. Currently, only seven lists are registered, with many politicians apparently awaiting a decision on the elections before declaring their intentions. Hamas won the previous parliamentary elections in 2006, leading to a boycott by Israel and Western countries and Hamas's subsequent takeover of Gaza in 2007.