A major conference of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party took place in Ramallah for the first time in a decade, but hundreds of members aligned with his exiled rival Mohammed Dahlan were excluded. The gathering aimed to elect new leadership bodies, including the Central Committee and Revolutionary Council, and was presented by party officials as a democratic process with record participation.

Egypt had urged Abbas to allow broader inclusion, raising the issue during a recent meeting in Ramallah. Cairo has long pressed for internal reforms within Fatah, arguing that wider participation could help revive the movement’s credibility. However, Abbas gave a non-committal response, and Dahlan’s faction confirmed its members were not invited.

Abbas previously announced an amnesty for expelled members, but the party requires individuals to submit personal letters acknowledging violations of party rules. Dahlan’s supporters have refused, insisting they committed no infractions and seeking collective reinstatement instead. Fatah leadership has rejected dealing with the faction as a group, maintaining that applications must be handled individually.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions within Fatah, which have also strained relations with the United Arab Emirates, where Dahlan resides. Satellite sessions of the conference were held in several cities, including Cairo, where the Palestinian embassy was temporarily closed to host the event, drawing additional criticism from opponents.