Hamas Signals Readiness for Abbas Unity Talks Amid Election

Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya said the group is ready to engage with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to achieve genuine unity. He made the remarks in a Saturday interview with the Qatari station Al-Araby, framing the outreach as a potential foundation for a new national programme. The statement comes amid widespread doubts over a planned Palestinian legislative election and as Israel prepares for its first national vote since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack.

Al-Hayya dismissed the significance of the Israeli election for Palestinian goals. He warned that Israeli politicians campaign off the 'blood' and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. "We absolutely refuse to allow the blood, suffering, and cause of the Palestinian people to serve as fuel for Israeli elections," al-Hayya said. He added that the focus for Hamas remains on achieving Palestinian rights regardless of which Israeli party wins.

Doubts cast over Palestinian vote

There are widespread doubts about whether the November 28 Palestinian legislative election will proceed. This vote would be the first in two decades. The last election was in 2006, when Hamas defeated the Fatah party led by Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas, now 90, has ruled by decree since that vote, with the Palestinian legislature not convened since 2006 and Hamas seizing control of Gaza. Participation remains uncertain after Abbas required candidates to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation's platform, which has recognised Israel’s right to exist since 1993.

Al-Hayya addressed the possibility of a delay. He noted that if the Palestinian legislative election is postponed, the step must serve as an entry point for putting 'the Palestinian house in order'. He stated that any alliance would remain intact and open to all, aiming to forge a unified national front.

Netanyahu faces tight re-election battle

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is locked in a tight contest to stay in power in the October 27 election. His most formidable challenger is former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who has served in Netanyahu’s war cabinet and has accused the Prime Minister of strategic failures. In the run-up to the vote, Netanyahu has vowed not to withdraw troops from Gaza and rejected a US-backed peace initiative in which Hamas said it would surrender weapons, a promise Israel views with scepticism.

Hamas rejects instrumentalisation of Palestinian suffering

Khalil al-Hayya reiterated Hamas's position that Palestinian suffering transcends Israeli politics. "Whether this or that person comes to power, or this party or another, our people have suffered at the hands of all Israeli parties," he said. The context is an Israeli retaliatory offensive in Gaza that has killed more than 73,900 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, damaged or destroyed the vast majority of buildings, and displaced virtually the entire population.

Beyond engaging Abbas, Hamas has also pursued an alliance with former Fatah figure Mohammed Dahlan, who was born in Gaza and has been an interlocutor with the United States on its peace plan, to establish a unified front. The group's political chief expressed hope that the call for unity would be accepted, closing on the point that any electoral postponement must still aim to forge a cohesive Palestinian position.