Upheaval in the Palestinian arena: old rivals unite against Abu Mazen

Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and exiled Fatah senior official Mohammed Dahlan have formed an unprecedented political alliance aimed at fielding a unified list for the Palestinian parliamentary elections. The move is intended to undermine the rule of 90-year-old Mahmoud Abbas amid growing public frustration. The deputy leader of Islamic Jihad admitted in an interview that they were surprised by the October 7 attack.

An unprecedented political alliance threatens Fatah's rule: Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and exiled Fatah senior official Mohammed Dahlan have agreed to form a unified national list for the Palestinian parliamentary elections set by President Mahmoud Abbas for November 28. The move stems from deep frustration with the exclusive rule of 90-year-old Abu Mazen, who has postponed elections since 2009. The alliance is particularly surprising given the hostile history: Dahlan was expelled from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 and exiled from the West Bank in 2010 due to a conflict with Abu Mazen. Since then, he has become a close advisor to the United Arab Emirates and cultivated ties with Israeli and American figures. The contacts matured in August at a meeting in Cairo between Dahlan and senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya. Islamic Jihad's deputy secretary-general, Mohammed al-Hindi, confirmed the alliance in an interview with AP and admitted that his organization was surprised by the October 7, 2023 attack, but joined immediately. He also addressed Iran's withdrawal from direct involvement due to its war with the US. The announcement of elections is met with skepticism among the Palestinian public, which views the PA leadership as corrupt and disconnected.