Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian groups, in a joint statement released on Sunday, demanded President Mahmoud Abbas call an urgent meeting of all groups' secretaries-general to launch national dialogue and pave the way for comprehensive elections.
The statement was also signed by prominent groups such as the Palestinian National Initiative, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command. The statement emphasized the importance of Abbas taking this step to launch a comprehensive national dialogue that would establish political partnership and pave the way for Palestinian elections.
The groups referred to the latest agreement reached in Beijing in the national reconciliation process, stating that 'the interim unified leadership framework is the only reference capable of managing this critical stage, strengthening national partnership, and ensuring the functioning of institutions.' In July 2024, a meeting was held in Beijing, the capital of China, with the participation of 14 Palestinian groups, where a consensus was reached on a 'comprehensive national unity' goal that embraces all parties under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
The statement said that Palestinian national unity and political partnership are the only way to repel the 'war of annihilation and plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause,' and called on the parties to assume the highest level of responsibility. The statement also emphasized that any step towards rebuilding and developing Palestinian national institutions must be 'based on a comprehensive national consensus and an inclusive dialogue,' noting that this approach would strengthen the legitimacy of institutions, tighten ranks, and establish a partnership understanding that is the guarantee of protecting the national project.
The joint statement also warned against external pressures or impositions, drawing attention to the dangers of 'any attempt to restructure the Palestinian political system in response to external interventions.' The statement did not provide details on this matter, but clearly conveyed the rejection of any foreign interference in Palestinian internal affairs.
The latest call came about two weeks after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas amended the general election law on June 14. With the amendment, Abbas increased the number of members of the Legislative Council from 132 to 200, lowered the age limit for candidacy from 28 to 23, and mandated at least one woman for every three candidates on electoral lists. These regulations were seen as preparation for the upcoming legislative and national elections.
The Legislative Council, which holds an important place in Palestinian politics, was last elected in 2006, but was dissolved and deactivated by Abbas in 2018. The Council's work had effectively come to a halt after the political division that began in 2007 when Hamas took control of Gaza.
On February 2, Abbas issued a decree calling on Palestinians at home and in the diaspora to hold elections for the Palestinian National Council on November 1, 2026. The National Council, considered the highest body of the PLO, has the authority to determine the organization's policies, plans, and programs.
Finally, the Palestinian groups in the joint statement pointed to the need to prioritize the supreme national interest and tighten ranks, calling for a joint struggle against projects targeting Palestinians such as 'forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, annexation, and liquidation of national rights.'
The Palestinian arena faces a crisis that has persisted since 2007, bringing both political and geographical division. This rift between the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the West Bank, governed by Fatah under Abbas's leadership, has deepened further due to the heavy humanitarian and political costs of Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza since October 8, 2023, which have caused massive destruction.
