Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have formed an electoral alliance with a faction led by Mohammed Dahlan to contest Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for November 28. The groups plan to back a unified national list against Fatah, led by President Mahmoud Abbas.

The agreement was reached in late September. Islamic Jihad’s deputy chief Mohammed al Hindi confirmed it in an interview in Istanbul. Islamic Jihad will not field candidates under its own banner. It will support a consensus-based national list instead.

The vote would be the first Palestinian parliamentary election since 2006. Abbas reaffirmed the November 28 date recently. France has pushed Abbas to honour the commitment. Paris wants EU election observers for the vote.

Doubts remain. Fatah has not announced its candidate list. Officials cite Israel’s refusal to let election materials enter Gaza. Fatah may also field multiple lists, which could split its vote. A poll in August put jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti ahead with 54 per cent support.