Hamas, Dahlan and Barghouti: Palestinian hopes fade as elections cancelled

Hamas, Dahlan and Barghouti: Palestinian hopes fade as elections cancelled

Palestinian political hopes appear to be fading as the Palestinian Authority (PA) has cancelled upcoming elections. The cancellation comes three years after the 7 October 2023 anniversary, during which Israel tightened its grip on the West Bank. The cancellation of the elections marks another failed attempt at political progress in the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to a senior Fatah contact, Mohammed Dahlan, a Hamas aide living in exile, was attempting to form a coalition with Hamas and the imprisoned Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti for the upcoming election. However, despite the talks reportedly going well, Palestinians remain skeptical of the election's prospects due to a history of delays and cancellations.

The PA's decision to cancel the elections underscores the ongoing challenges of Palestinian governance under Israel's occupation. The closures and restrictions on movement have left Palestinians facing a dire economic situation, with many businesses shuttered and essential services strained.

In a separate incident, a disabled Palestinian man, Saleem, shared the tragic story of his nine-year-old son, Akram, who is being treated in an Israeli hospital after being hit by a car. Israeli authorities have refused to grant the boy's parents permits to visit him, leaving him alone and surrounded by strangers in a Jewish hospital.