![Most of the arrests took place in the cities of Hebron, Bethlehem, Jenin, Ramallah, Al-Bireh and occupied East Jerusalem [File: Alaa Badarneh/EPA]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/h_56444270-e1603616061860.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Hamas describes the arrests as ‘an attempt to disrupt and stop the course of the Palestinian elections’.
Hamas
![Al-Qudwa had long been seen as a possible successor to the 85-year-old Abbas [File: Abbas Momani/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/000_1CJ51Q.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party strips Nasser al-Qudwa of membership after he announced his own list in upcoming polls.
![Sinwar is a former member of the group’s armed wing who spent more than 20 years in an Israeli prison [File: Khalil Hamra/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1c7d3e60f43d4f3aa5f83480de71fea7_18.jpeg?resize=570%2C380)
Re-election for second four-year term comes before May 22 legislative polls, the first Palestinian vote in 15 years.
Rival Palestinian factions agree on terms for holding long-delayed presidential and legislative votes.
![A girl looks on through the window of a vehicle while waiting at the Rafah border crossing's departure area to travel from the Gaza Strip into Egypt [Said Khatib/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/000_92K29L.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Move comes as Palestinian factions agree to ‘respect and accept’ results of upcoming polls at Cairo talks.
![The two groups and 12 other Palestinian factions pledged 'to abide by the timetable' for balloting and 'respect and accept' the results [File: Palestinian president's office via Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-02-08T115453Z_648095106_RC2BOL922XJ1_RTRMADP_3_PALESTINIANS-POLITICS-ELECTION.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
In Cairo summit, Fatah, Hamas and 12 other factions agree to hold legislative and presidential elections in May, July.
![Palestinians plan to hold legislative elections on May 22 and presidential polls on July 31 [File: Claudio Reyes/EPA]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/201117234510716954_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The two-day talks between Fatah and Hamas will focus on issues related to legislative and presidential elections.
![A Palestinian man salvages items at the scene of an Israeli attack near the Palestinian city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip [File: Said Khatib/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/000_8YN9D6.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Israeli army says it targeted Hamas sites and tunnels after rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.
![Many questions remain over the planned elections, including whether international observers will take part [File: Hazem Bader/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/000_8UX7V4.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Important hurdles, including disagreement between Hamas and Fatah, threaten to derail the vote, the first since 2006.
![Palestinian supporters of Hamas wave flags during a rally marking the anniversary of the movement's foundation, in Gaza City [File: Ali Ali/EPA]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/201112103939394884_20.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Hamas says PA’s resumption of ties with Israel is ‘impediment’ to unity talks, but vows to push forward.
A look at shifting regional politics, and how Hamas is circumventing blockade of Gaza to develop military capability.
![Egyptian officials could not immediately be reached for comment and it was unclear whether the fishing boat had crossed into Egyptian waters [File: Mohamed Saber/EPA]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/67cb1b1419294be088fb307a729c375f_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The fishermen, who were brothers, were shot off the coast near the southern border town of Rafah.
![Palestinians celebrate after Hamas said it reached a deal with Palestinian rival Fatah [Anadolu]](/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/4baf5cafb4834bfc9cf0409c79a27110_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Two biggest Palestinian factions have agreed to hold the first elections in Palestine in nearly 15 years.
![Palestinian leaders watch the speech of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya via videoconference during a virtual meeting with Palestinian factions over Israel and the United Arab Emirates's deal to normalise ties, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank [File: Alaa Badarneh/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/444ab3d20d2a45808831ade02e15ea81_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The two rivals will discuss ending the internal division and holding general elections.