Hamas in talks with former Fatah rival Mohammed Dahlan ahead of Palestinian elections

Hamas is actively seeking potential alliances with figures and factions previously considered political adversaries, including former Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. These overtures come in the lead-up to the Palestinian Legislative Council elections, slated for November 28, 2026.

This strategic maneuvering includes a recent meeting in Egypt between Dahlan and Hamas chief Khalil Al Hayya. According to a statement from the Democratic Reform Bloc, Dahlan's breakaway Fatah faction, the two leaders discussed "unity of the national position" and the "roadmap for implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement." Imad Mohsen, spokesperson for the Democratic Reform Movement, characterized the discussions as in-depth and responsible, focusing on protecting the Palestinian people and strengthening their national standing.

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unity of the national position

Dahlan, once the first head of the Preventive Security Service, rose to prominence within the Palestinian Authority before resigning in protest of delayed reforms. He has previously accused both Fatah and Hamas of corruption and was reportedly involved in a US-backed effort to unseat Hamas in 2007. However, ties began to thaw in 2017, leading to his current engagement with the group.

The election itself is a significant event, marking the first Palestinian legislative election in twenty years. The gap follows Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip a year after the previous election. A Hamas official confirmed to The National that the group is forming a "political alliance" with multiple factions, underscoring the complex and shifting political landscape.

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discussed in depth and with responsibility all issues concerning our Palestinian arena, foremost among them the efforts to protect our people and strengthen the national position… within the framework of the efforts of the leadership of the movement and the national forces to ensure the unity of the national position, and the developments in the negotiation process that led to the approval of the roadmap for implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.