Mohammed Dahlan's path to Gaza goes through Abu Dhabi - and Washington

Commentator Baruch Yedid analyzes the path of Mohammed Dahlan, a former senior Fatah official operating from the United Arab Emirates, to return to the center of the Palestinian political arena. Dahlan relies on his ties in Abu Dhabi, Emirati aid to Gaza, and contacts with Washington, aiming to establish a position in the day after the war, while dealing with the rivalry with Mahmoud Abbas and the regional struggle against Turkey and Qatar.

Commentator Baruch Yedid analyzes the path of Mohammed Dahlan, a former senior Fatah official operating from the United Arab Emirates, to return to the center of the Palestinian political arena. Dahlan does not hold an official position in the Palestinian Authority, but his name arises in discussions about the future of Gaza and the Palestinian political system, including the possibility of elections. He relies on his ties with the United Arab Emirates, which has funneled billions of dollars in aid to Gaza in recent years, including projects and infrastructure. His associates deny a connection between the aid and his political ambitions. Simultaneously, Dahlan is advancing ties in Washington through an American consulting firm, and within this framework, contacts have been held with senior officials in the American administration. The analysis positions Dahlan as part of the axis led by the United Arab Emirates, against Turkish and Qatari influence and ties with Hamas. In the Israeli system, some see the United Arab Emirates as a player for rehabilitating the Strip and Dahlan as a bridging figure. However, it is too early to determine if Dahlan will become the central figure in Gaza. The move is broader than the question of control over the Strip: Dahlan is trying to establish ties in Abu Dhabi and Washington while maintaining channels in the Palestinian arena.