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”

Example Sentences

"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

"The identity of Fatah is a revolutionary identity. It was about changing the status quo for the sake of liberating Palestine and turning the Palestinian cause from a humanitarian issue into a political issue."

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

Most electoral lists were aligned with Abbas's secular-nationalist Fatah movement or composed of independents.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

Whilst still a mere lad, Dost, by his courage and sagacity, delivered Fatah from more than one imminent peril.

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