Fatah

American  

[faht-ah, fuh-tah] / ˈfɑt ɑ, fəˈtɑ /

noun

1. a Palestinian political party advocating Palestinian independence and self-rule.

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Fatah British  

/ ˈfætə /

noun

1. a Palestinian terrorist organization, founded in 1956, with the aim of destroying the state of Israel: it has splintered into rival factions since 1988

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Etymology

Origin of Fatah

First recorded in 1965–70; vocalization of Arabic FTḤ, abbreviation of Ḥarakat al-Taḥrīr al-Waṭanī al-Filasṭīn “Palestinian National Liberation Movement,” from ḥarakat, form of ḥarakah “movement” + taḥrīr “liberation” + waṭanī “national” + Filasṭīn Palestine ( def. ); coined by reversing the elements and shortening ḤTWF to form FTḤ as a pun on fatḥ “opening, victory”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Fatah

Palestinian factions including Abbas's Fatah party and its longtime Islamist rival Hamas had agreed to recommend the elections be postponed at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, a source who was present told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

"When we talk about Fatah, we're talking about the backbone of the Palestinian national movement, at least since the 1960s," says political analyst, Xavier Abu Eid, in Ramallah.

From BBC ● May 15, 2026

Candidates from the two lists that got the most votes were independents or associated with factions within Fatah, the political party that runs the Palestinian Authority, which organized the elections.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

"The corruption system now operates with confidence and immunity," wrote Tirawi, a senior member of the Fatah central committee led by Abbas, whose presidential mandate expired in 2009.

From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026

When the British forces re-entered Afghanistan to punish its inhabitants for the Kabul massacres, Prince Fatah Jang, son of the murdered Shah Shuja, was placed upon the throne.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 373, November 1846 by Various

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