AA Dünya45 minutes agoWorld2 min readTürkiye

Islamic Jihad announces alliance with Dahlan group

Quick Look

Deputy Secretary General of Islamic Jihad, Mohammed al-Hindi, confirmed in an interview with the Associated Press in Istanbul that Islamic Jihad has formed an alliance between Hamas and the Mohammed Dahlan group that will support a joint national list.
Dahlan was exiled after disagreements with Abbas in 2010 and is currently working as a consultant in the UAE.
The basis of the alliance lies in common dissatisfaction with the Abbas administration.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The last general elections in Palestine were held in January 2006 and Hamas won these elections. Afterwards, there were conflicts between Fatah and Hamas, and Mohammed Dahlan was exiled in 2010 after disagreements with Abbas. Dahlan later settled in the UAE and works as a consultant. Abbas had postponed the elections several times, including 2021.

Font size

Deputy Secretary General of Islamic Jihad Muhammad al-Hindi confirmed the alliance decision in an interview with the Associated Press (AP) agency in Istanbul.

Hindi stated that the alliance in question would support a "common national list" that could consist of independent figures rather than party members.

It is noteworthy that Mohammed Dahlan, who had conflicts with Hamas in Gaza for a while and was exiled in 2010 after his disagreement with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was involved in the process.

The inclusion of the Dahlan group, which works as a consultant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has contacts with the US and Israeli authorities, in this alliance is considered a new turning point in Palestinian politics.

It is stated that the basis of this partnership, which brings together Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Dahlan group, lies in the common dissatisfaction with the Abbas administration.

The last general elections in Palestine were held in January 2006.

With the decree he published on July 9, Palestinian President Abbas decided to hold general elections in occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip on November 28.

It was also announced that the date of the presidential elections, which are expected to be held in the first quarter of next year in accordance with the law, will be determined later.

During the tensions after Hamas won the last elections in 2006 and the subsequent period, Abbas postponed the elections several times, including 2021.

Who is Dahlan?

Muhammed Dahlan, who was previously a Central Committee member of the Fatah Movement, was expelled in 2011.

Dahlan left the West Bank in 2011 and settled in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, due to allegations that he "killed Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and made a fortune with the money he embezzled during his term".

The Palestinian Corruption Crimes Court sentenced Dahlan to three years in prison in 2016 for embezzling $16 million during his time as the Security Affairs Coordinator of the Palestinian Presidency.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

The alliance will announce a joint list that will participate in the general elections scheduled for November 28.
Likely · Within weeks
The Dahlan group's role in the alliance will enable it to receive external support through its relations with the UAE and the USA.
Possible · Within months

Open Questions

When will the official announcement of the alliance be made?
Who will make up the joint national list?
How will this alliance affect Hamas' rule in Gaza?
How will the Abbas administration react to this alliance?