Palestinian factions explore broad alliance ahead of November 28 elections

Hamas and several other Palestinian factions are holding talks on a possible broad electoral alliance ahead of legislative elections scheduled for 28 November. The discussions come as campaigning is due to begin on 6 November, with the vote set to be the first Palestinian legislative election since January 2006. The political manoeuvring is taking place against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, rising violence in the occupied West Bank and restrictions in occupied East Jerusalem.

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Husam Badran, Hamas's national relations official, said the movement has recently held bilateral and collective meetings with a range of groups. Those groups include Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the National Initiative and Democratic Reform, and the Mohammed Dahlan-led breakaway Fatah faction. Badran said Hamas wants to run within the widest possible national bloc and that its decision to contest the elections would not depend on Israeli objections.

He said participation in Palestinian elections is an inherent right for all factions. The talks highlight both the scale of the political contest and the divisions within the Palestinian political system. Fatah, formally known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, is preparing to enter the race on its own, according to its spokesperson Munther al-Hayek.

He said the movement's organisational bases refuse to take part with Hamas on a single list, although he said the door remains open to alliances with other factions. Al-Hayek also described the elections as part of an effort to unify the Palestinian political system. The planned vote matters because it would be the first legislative election in nearly two decades and could reshape the balance of power among Palestinian factions.

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Abbas called the election in a 9 July decree, and the campaign period is expected to begin while the conflict in Gaza continues and tensions remain high in the West Bank. The inclusion of multiple factions in alliance talks suggests that parties are already positioning themselves for a fragmented and highly contested race. The discussions also reflect long-running rivalries and shifting tactical alliances within Palestinian politics.

Hamas and Fatah have been divided for years, while smaller factions such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the PFLP have their own political and ideological positions. The involvement of Mohammed Dahlan's breakaway Fatah faction adds another layer to the negotiations, given its history of criticism of both Hamas and the Fatah leadership. Analysts and factional leaders say the current manoeuvring is taking place before formal campaigning begins.

What remains unclear is whether the talks will produce a single list, a looser coalition or no agreement at all. It is also not clear how the security situation, restrictions in East Jerusalem and the wider war will affect campaigning and voting. The coming weeks will show whether the factions can turn exploratory meetings into a formal alliance before the 28 November deadline.

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