Dahlan is the man of the hour: engineering Gaza between Washington and Hamas | Analysis

Mohammed Dahlan, who has been outside the official Palestinian political system, is becoming a central figure in efforts to shape the day after in Gaza. He maintains ties with the Americans, Hamas, Abu Dhabi, and Israel, and met with the head of the Shin Bet. Meanwhile, the possibility of a joint run with Hamas against Fatah of Mahmoud Abbas in elections is emerging. However, much of the information comes from his associates, and it may be a sophisticated election campaign.

Mohammed Dahlan, who was for years outside the official Palestinian political system, has become in recent months one of the most intriguing figures in the effort to shape the day after in the Gaza Strip. He talks with the Americans, maintains ties with Hamas, receives support from Abu Dhabi according to Arab sources, met with Shin Bet chief David Zini - and at the same time his name is increasingly raised in the context of who will rule Gaza after the war. On August 17, a meeting was reported in Cairo between Hamas leadership and a delegation from the faction affiliated with Dahlan. In recent days, reports have emerged about the possibility of a joint list of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Dahlan's faction in the elections expected in November. Dahlan met with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and in May he met in Abu Dhabi with the Shin Bet chief. According to an Arab source, the message he conveyed to Hamas was: "Give up the weapons, give up power and funding sources." However, much of the information comes from Dahlan's associates, and it may be a sophisticated election campaign.