Ramallah: Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and a faction associated with former senior Fatah figure Mohammed Dahlan have agreed to cooperate around a unified electoral list ahead of planned Palestinian legislative elections.

The development was confirmed by Palestinian officials as political groups prepare for the parliamentary vote scheduled for November 28, 2026. The proposed alliance would reportedly support a list made up largely of independent candidates rather than candidates formally representing each faction.

The proposed arrangement brings together political groups that have historically been deeply divided. Dahlan, a former senior Fatah security official, has been a longstanding rival of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He left Gaza after his political conflict with Abbas and has subsequently been based in the United Arab Emirates.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad have also traditionally maintained positions distinct from the Palestinian Authority. Islamic Jihad’s participation in an electoral process would represent a significant change from its previous approach toward Palestinian elections.

Mohammed al-Hindi, deputy secretary general of Islamic Jihad, said the groups support the idea of a unified national list. According to reports, the list could include independent political figures rather than openly identified representatives of Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

The proposed alliance could face an important legal and political hurdle because it remains unclear whether the Palestinian Authority will approve a list connected with Hamas or other factions for participation in the election. The Palestinian Central Elections Commission has been receiving applications from political lists, but approval remains a separate issue.

The planned election itself remains uncertain. President Mahmoud Abbas has announced November 28 as the date for legislative elections, which would be the first Palestinian parliamentary vote since 2006. However, elections have previously been postponed, and analysts have identified security, territorial and political obstacles that could affect the process.

The emerging coalition is also significant because it reflects attempts by several Palestinian political currents to create a broader electoral platform rather than contesting the election separately.

The situation remains fluid, with discussions continuing over the composition of the proposed list, the participation of different factions and whether voting can take place across Gaza and the West Bank under existing conditions.

If the election proceeds as scheduled, the formation of a broad electoral list could become one of the major developments shaping the Palestinian political landscape in the weeks ahead.