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PLO, Palestinian Factions Reject US Decision on Haniyeh

Hamas political bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (REUTERS)
Hamas political bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (REUTERS)
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PLO, Palestinian Factions Reject US Decision on Haniyeh

Hamas political bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (REUTERS)
Hamas political bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (REUTERS)

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) rejected the US decision to include Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh on its terrorism list.

Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee, said that the organization “rejects and condemns the American decision to include Haniyeh on the terrorism list”, and called for overcoming all divisions and achieving national unity for the sake of the Palestinian national project.

The PLO’s position posed another challenge to the United States, in light of the crisis over US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as the organization has at previous times avoided commenting on similar decisions against Hamas.

Washington announced on Wednesday that it had included Ismail Haniyeh, on its terrorism list, along with three organizations.

“The Department of State has designated Ismail Haniyeh, Harakat al-Sabireen, Liwa al Thawra, and Harakat Sawa’d Misr (HASM) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224,” read a media note by the State Department’s Office of the Spokesperson.

The decision sparked a wave of anger in the Palestinian territories, as many officials strongly denounced the new move. Haniyeh, for his part, was quoted as saying by his son that he has been awarded a “medal of honor” through the new US announcement.

Muhammad Haniyeh said his father told worshipers at the dawn prayer in Gaza that the US describing him as terrorist was an “honor medal.”

Hamas issued a statement in which it said that the American decision was a dangerous development that comes “in violation of the international laws, which gave the Palestinian people the right to defend themselves, resist the occupation and choose their leadership.”

“This decision demonstrates the full US bias in favor of the Israeli occupation and provides a formal cover for Israeli crimes against our Palestinian people,” the statement noted.

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Islamist Leader in Sudan’s Former Ruling Party Eyes Power After War

Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
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Islamist Leader in Sudan’s Former Ruling Party Eyes Power After War

Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)

A senior figure in Sudan’s dissolved ruling party has revealed that the country’s Islamist movement is preparing for a return to power once the ongoing conflict ends, even if it means supporting prolonged military rule in the interim.

The remarks, made by Ahmed Haroun, former head of the National Congress Party and one of four Sudanese figures wanted by the International Criminal Court, reflect growing confidence among Islamists following their military involvement in the war.

The war, now in its third year, pits Sudan’s army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and has triggered massive displacement, famine, and ethnic violence. Despite the RSF holding strategic ground in Darfur and parts of southern Sudan, the army has recently gained momentum on multiple fronts.

Islamist factions claim credit for assisting in these advances, contributing fighters and logistical support.

According to military and government sources, the Islamist movement has been increasingly visible on the battlefield.

These networks, dismantled following the 2019 uprising that ousted Omar al-Bashir, have resurfaced amid the chaos of war.

A leaked party document reviewed by Reuters outlines the movement’s growing role, stating that between 2,000 and 3,000 Islamist fighters were mobilized in the conflict’s first year, with over 70,000 civilians trained for combat under the army’s call for general mobilization.

While military leadership has downplayed connections to political factions, army sources and Islamists alike acknowledge that coordination exists, particularly within elite units where Islamist-trained operatives are embedded. Islamist forces have reportedly reinforced dwindling army ranks, especially in key battles around the capital, Khartoum.

Ahmed Haroun, who escaped from prison at the onset of the conflict, proposed a governance model that preserves military control over national sovereignty and security, with a civilian prime minister emerging from future elections.

He insisted that Islamists will only return through elections, not via transitional arrangements, and argued that Sudan needs a tailored political model that accommodates military involvement due to ongoing security threats and foreign interference.

While denying the scale of Islamist involvement described in the leaked documents, Haroun admitted that supporting the army was part of a broader strategy in response to the national call for mobilization.

Military sources estimate that at least 5,000 fighters directly linked to the former ruling party are active, with many serving in specialized units or intelligence services.

Despite these developments, Haroun and other Islamist figures maintain that they do not wield authority over the army. Still, their growing influence on the battlefield and political landscape has sparked renewed concerns about the possible resurgence of Sudan’s old guard in the post-war order.