Hamas, Islamic Jihad Form Alliance with Fatah Rival Dahlan

In a significant political development, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have agreed to form an unexpected coalition with former Fatah senior official Mohammed Dahlan. Dahlan, who maintains close ties with the United Arab Emirates, a key Israeli ally, could see his new alliance challenge Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party control, though this hinges on the highly uncertain prospect of general elections.

Abbas has scheduled parliamentary elections for November 28 in Gaza and the West Bank, but has repeatedly postponed them, most recently in 2021 when Fatah appeared headed for defeat. The last Palestinian elections in 2006 saw Hamas win, leading to international boycotts and subsequent unrest, culminating in Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip the following year.

Mohammad al-Hindi, deputy secretary-general of Islamic Jihad, confirmed the alliance in an interview with the Associated Press, stating it would support a "unified national list" potentially comprising independent figures rather than official party members. This move comes amid broader regional tensions, with Iran issuing threats against the US and Israel, and the US imposing sanctions on individuals and entities for allegedly acquiring weapons for Iran's defense ministry.

Domestically, Israeli political discourse is dominated by security concerns and election-related issues. Opposition leader Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid have raised alarms about a critical shortage of 20,000 soldiers, attributing it to the government's refusal to draft all segments of society, particularly the ultra-Orthodox. They also expressed concerns about maintaining election integrity amidst potential political interference in security matters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, visited an air force base and warned of potential enemy attacks around the elections, vowing a strong response.