Hussein al-Sheikh in headlines as Palestine’s top talks broker amid leadership shifts; long-time Fatah official (born 1960).
Since early March 2026, Israeli settlers have intensified violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, killing at least six and displacing dozens. The Israeli military has condemned some incidents and opened investigations, but rights groups report near-impunity for settlers. Movement restrictions amid the Israel-Iran war hamper emergency responses, worsening the humanitarian situation.
Fatah's eighth general conference in Ramallah is underway with 2,580 delegates electing the movement’s Central Committee and Revolutionary Council. Abbas has pledged reforms and elections, while questions about succession, internal divisions and funding pressures loom as Hamas calls for Palestinian unity.
Fatah has held its three-day Eighth General Conference in Ramallah and has re-elected Mahmoud Abbas as movement head while voting for a new central committee. Marwan Barghouti has topped the vote, Jibril Rajoub and Hussein Al‑Sheikh have retained senior posts, and Yasser Abbas has won a seat on the central committee.