Region | Palestinian Territories
Fatah leader urges probe into Gaza defeat
A senior Fatah leader from Gaza who sat out fighting with Hamas last week, called yesterday for an inquiry into how Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's forces lost control of the strip to the Islamist group.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:37 June 18, 2007
Gaza: A senior Fatah leader from Gaza who sat out fighting with Hamas last week, called yesterday for an inquiry into how Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's forces lost control of the strip to the Islamist group.
The call from Ahmad Helles - who had urged dialogue with Hamas instead of conflict - was a sign of deepening political division between Gaza and the West Bank, where Abbas holds sway.
Many loyalists of secular Fatah brand Helles a Hamas ally.
Helles was sidelined by Abbas earlier this year and is an arch rival of the president's national security adviser, Mohammad Dahlan, who is also from the Gaza Strip.
"A serious investigation must be conducted so that those who made mistakes can be held accountable," said Helles, who is respected by many of Fatah's armed groups. He said both Abbas and Dahlan should be included in any probe.
"Helles did not fight and is trying to benefit from what happened in Gaza to impose himself as the leader," said one Abbas loyalist in the West Bank, reacting to the call for an investigation.
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