Fatah Warns al-Qudwa against Fielding Separate List in Palestinian Elections

Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)
Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)
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Fatah Warns al-Qudwa against Fielding Separate List in Palestinian Elections

Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)
Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)

Fatah warned its Central Committee member Nasser al-Qudwa against fielding a separate list in the upcoming legislative elections to compete against the movement.

Secretary of the Fatah Central Committee Jibril Rajoub threatened to dismiss Qudwa from his post if he went forward with the move.

The committee is expected to discuss the issue during a meeting chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.

Rajoub’s threat followed a tweet by committee member Hussein al-Sheikh, in which he affirmed that Fatah movement would submit a unified list for the polls.

In a Facebook post, Sheikh stressed that Fatah aims to consolidate democracy, maintain the national liberation project and protect national unity.

Prominent former and current officials in Fatah are preparing new electoral lists that could test the movement's unity and strength.

This could also pose a new challenge that might affect the presidential elections.

Qudwa, 67, a nephew of former Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman Yasser Arafat, had announced the establishment of the Palestinian National Democratic Forum that would run in the elections, stressing that he was trying to return Fatah back on the right path.

He said he was opposed to the understanding reached between Fatah and Hamas, explaining that it will not help in resolving the internal division.

He also said he was opposed to prominent imprisoned Fatah member Marwan Barghouti’s running in the elections.

Member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council Hatem Abdel Qader told Asharq Al-Awsat that Barghouti is aware of the importance of the legislative elections.

Abdel Qader, who is close to Barghouti, confirmed that the detainee will run in the presidential elections, not the parliamentary polls, which are scheduled for May 22.

Sacked prominent Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan had also announced he would field a separate list.



Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
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Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 

As the Houthi threat to international shipping grows ever more serious - most recently with the sinking of two Greek vessels, killing three sailors and leaving twelve missing - there has been little substantial reaction from major world powers. The United States, Germany’s foreign minister, and the UN envoy to Yemen were among the few to voice concern and call for de-escalation.

While Houthi attacks intensify across the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, insurance premiums for commercial ships in these waters have surged to as much as 1% of a vessel’s value, according to leading global insurers. This underscores the scale of the risk and the declining confidence in protecting this vital maritime corridor.

The two assaults targeted the cargo ships Magic Seas and True Confidence between Sunday and Tuesday last week. According to the EU naval mission Aspides, tasked with safeguarding Red Sea navigation, the attacks killed at least three sailors, wounded others, and left a dozen unaccounted for.

The strike on the Liberian-flagged Greek-operated True Confidence marked a dangerous escalation. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they used an explosive-laden drone boat and six ballistic and cruise missiles. They alleged the ship was heading to Israel’s port of Eilat, though independent verification was lacking.

Despite the scale of the violence, most global capitals limited their responses to brief statements. Only the US ambassador to the UN issued a pointed condemnation, along with remarks from a State Department spokesperson and a statement by UN envoy Hans Grundberg.

The US denounced the attacks as “terrorist and unjustified,” describing them as evidence of the “ongoing threat posed by Iranian-backed Houthis to regional maritime security and commerce.” The US ambassador stressed Washington’s commitment to denying the Houthis resources to fund such operations and called on the UN Security Council to remove obstacles blocking its expert monitoring teams in Yemen.

The State Department likewise condemned the attacks as a threat to the freedom of navigation and economic stability. “We will continue to take necessary steps to protect commercial shipping,” the statement warned, urging the broader international community to condemn the Houthis’ actions.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Iran must use its influence to halt Houthi attacks. Speaking in Vienna alongside his Israeli and Austrian counterparts, he declared: “We strongly condemn these attacks and expect Iran to act to stop them.”

UN envoy Grundberg expressed deep concern about the sinking of True Confidence, warning of the humanitarian and environmental consequences of such operations, which violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2722. He urged the Houthis to provide sustainable guarantees to end attacks and build on prior understandings with the United States.

Oman had brokered a limited agreement last May under which the Houthis pledged to stop targeting American ships in return for a suspension of broad US-led military action - though the deal excluded Israel.

A Dangerous Precedent

Yemeni officials say the tepid reactions from much of the world send the Houthis the wrong message, reinforcing their sense of impunity. On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi boasted in his weekly address about sinking the vessels, calling it a “clear lesson” to any shipping company doing business with Israel.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out over 150 attacks, disrupting global trade flows through the Red Sea. Their operations have sunk British and Greek ships and damaged many more, including hijacking the Galaxy Leader and holding its crew for over a year.