Mohammad Dahlan, a former senior Fatah security chief, has resurfaced in headlines following reports that Israel Security Agency chief David Zini allegedly met him in the United Arab Emirates. The Israeli agency declined to comment. Dahlan once led the Preventive Security Service under the Palestinian Authority, becoming one of the most powerful security figures in Palestinian politics before resigning in 2002 over stalled reforms.

Once viewed as a rising political force, Dahlan reportedly had support from the administration of former United States president George Bush, which encouraged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to appoint him as deputy. Their relationship deteriorated, and in 2011 Dahlan left the West Bank for Abu Dhabi. The Palestinian Authority later convicted him in absentia on charges including corruption and involvement in a plot against Yasser Arafat, allegations he has denied.

In exile, Dahlan has served as an adviser to United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed. Although he harshly criticized both Fatah and Hamas in the past, his stance toward Hamas has softened over time, and he has maintained contacts with the group. Some regional and international officials have reportedly viewed him as a potential future leader in Gaza following the war with Hamas.