Former Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan reportedly considered for post-war Gaza leadership

Dahlan seen as a potentially neutral leader, with no strong loyalties to either Hamas or Fatah

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Senior American, Israeli and Arab officials are putting forward the name Mohammed Dahlan, a former senior member of the Fatah organization, as a possible temporary ruler in Gaza after the war, according to The Wall Street Journal.

On Thursday morning, the WSJ reported that negotiations are likely to take place in Doha, Qatar next week to discuss the issue of what will happen in Gaza after the war.

Despite being a member of Fatah for a length of time, Dahlan is considered independent of both the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Hamas terrorist organization, which currently governs the Gaza Strip.

The WSJ report noted that while Dahlan recently said he is not interested in overseeing Gaza, he does have his own political party, active connections on the ground, and a fair amount of business and political experience.

Since the beginning of the war, Dahlan has worked alongside the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, assisting them in discussions about rebuilding Gaza. He has also reportedly held meetings in Cairo with businessmen and wealthy families who fled the conflict, in an attempt to bring necessary goods into the coastal enclave.

Like Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar, Dahlan was born and grew up in Khan Younis. In 1987, he was arrested for taking part in the First Intifada and deported to Jordan. He later joined Fatah in Tunisia and gained several leadership positions in the organization over the next few decades.

In 2010, Dahlan was expelled from the PA, allegedly becoming a threat to current PA President Mahmoud Abbas. He moved to the UAE with his family, where he has been living ever since and has even served as an advisor to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.

Aaron David Miller, the former peace negotiator for the U.S. State Department, said Dahlan has enough charisma, trust on the street and connections across the political spectrum to succeed.

Various scenarios have been repeatedly presented or leaked to the media regarding the arrangements for the ‘day after’ Israel’s devastating war on Gaza. Sometimes, our name is used to thrill audiences.
Therefore and once again, we reiterate that all my colleagues and myself are…
— Mohammad Dahlan محمد دحلان (@mohammad_dahlan) July 25, 2024

The WSJ reported that Hamas recently indicated that it would accept Dahlan as part of an interim governing group. Dahlan has denied any interest in accepting such a role.

The Journal said that one option under consideration is appointing Dahlan as the head of a Palestinian security force of 2,500 men which would work with an international force after Israeli forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Members of the Palestinian security forces would be vetted by the U.S., Israel, and Egypt, the report said, and would not have clear ties to the PA.

According to an op-ed in the Washington Post, officials from Israel, the UAE, and the United States participated in a meeting last week in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

According to the op-ed, the UAE has proposed a reformed PA, reportedly to be led by former PA Prime Minister Salam Fayad. The UAE plan would involve a gradual expansion of security enforcement by a “reformed” PA, moving from north to south in the Strip. The plan also includes an active role for Dahlan, but as a facilitator instead of a leader, using his supporters and contacts to assist in the project's success.