Fleeing generals left men to their fate

Fleeing generals left men to their fate
By Charles Levinson, Sunday Telegraph

In the last enclave of Fatah-controlled territory in the Gaza Strip, special forces officer Abu Hassan steeled himself for death.

The 30-year-old Fatah soldier's ordeal during the 18-month power struggle with Hamas, and especially during last week's bloody civil war, opens a window on his Fatah movement's collective fate in the Gaza Strip. It also provides a glimpse into why the Iranian-backed Hamas won, and why the pro-West Fatah floundered.

His fears for the future, expressed hours before Fatah was ousted, reflected the apprehensions of many Palestinians in Gaza, concerned about what Hamas rule will mean. Having spent a decade in the Palestinian security services, the married father of two, preparing for a battle to the death, said he would have no place under Hamas rule.

He was talking to The Sunday Telegraph on Thursday, inside the Gaza City compound of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.

Two hours earlier, Gaza's once-mighty Preventative Security Services headquarters fell. Mr Hassan and his men arrived too late to assist their besieged comrades. He said he saw Hamas gunmen slit the throats of two surrendering officers.

"Once Hamas takes over we will have no place to live in Gaza. Even if we surrender they will kill us," he said, with bandaged soldiers from the week's battles standing behind him. "Our only option is to fight to the death."

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