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Monday, September 28, 2026

Palestinian communists seek broad electoral alliance to challenge Fatah-Hamas polarization

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The Palestinian People’s Party (PPP) is stepping up preparations for the November 28 legislative elections, working to forge a broad left-wing, democratic and social alliance that could emerge as a third political pole beyond the longstanding Fatah-Hamas polarization.

PPP General Secretary Bassam al-Salhi said the party does not regard the elections simply as a contest for parliamentary seats, but as an opportunity to rebuild Palestinian political institutions and restore popular participation. 
 
Al-Salhi argued that the vote must go ahead, its results must be respected and the process should ultimately produce “one government and one Legislative Council,” overcoming the existence of parallel political structures. 

Central to the PPP’s preparations is the creation of a broader political and social bloc bringing together established left-wing organizations with democratic forces, youth movements, social organizations and independent figures. Al-Salhi said discussions have taken place with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and FIDA, while emphasizing that the initiative is intended to reach beyond the traditional parties of the Palestinian left. The aim, he said, is first to establish agreement around a common political, economic and social program, from which a joint electoral list could then emerge. 

According to al-Salhi, the proposed program would combine national and social demands, including strengthening popular resistance, defending Palestinian sovereignty and reducing dependence on the Israeli economy. Economically, the PPP advocates a greater role for cooperative and solidarity-based forms of production, alongside stronger public health and education, agriculture and workers’ rights. For Gaza, al-Salhi called for the territory to be treated as a disaster area, including relief from fees, loans and other financial obligations as part of reconstruction and recovery efforts.

The electoral process formally entered the nomination stage on September 26. Following a legal amendment issued a day later, the Central Elections Commission announced that the period for submitting electoral lists had been extended to October 13, while confirming that polling remains scheduled for November 28, 2026. 

For the PPP, the preparations therefore extend beyond assembling a candidate list. Al-Salhi has presented the initiative as an attempt to translate cooperation among left, democratic and social forces into a more durable political bloc with a common program — and, through the elections, to give that current an independent presence in Palestinian political life.

The Palestinian People’s Party (PPP) was founded in 1982 as the Palestinian Communist Party. It adopted its current name in 1991 and describes itself as continuing the long history of the communist movement in Palestine.

    IN DEFENSE OF COMMUNISM ©