Mahmoud Da'as (, also known by his ''
kunya'' Abu Khalid; 1934 – 2009) was a high-ranking commander of the
Palestine Liberation Organisation
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO; ) is a Palestinian nationalist coalition that is internationally recognized as the official representative of the Palestinian people in both the occupied Palestinian territories and the diaspora. ...
(PLO), serving as long-time member of
Fatah
Fatah ( ; ), formally the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (), is a Palestinian nationalist and Arab socialist political party. It is the largest faction of the confederated multi-party Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and ...
's Revolutionary Council and Supreme Military Council. Born in northern Palestine, Da'as grew up in Jordan where he joined the
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). Educated as military engineer, he was eventually appointed lieutenant colonel and head of the Jordanian Engineering Corps' 2nd Battalion. Da'as joined the PLO in 1967, and defected from the JAF during the
Black September
Black September (), also known as the Jordanian Civil War, was an armed conflict between Jordan, led by Hussein of Jordan, King Hussein, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), led by chairman Yasser Arafat. The main phase of the fight ...
of 1970. He consequently rose in the ranks of the PLO, and became an important military commander in the
Arab–Israeli conflict
The Arab–Israeli conflict is a geopolitical phenomenon involving military conflicts and a variety of disputes between Israel and many Arab world, Arab countries. It is largely rooted in the historically supportive stance of the Arab League ...
, taking part in missions in Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and Uganda. Following the
Oslo I Accord
The Oslo I Accord or Oslo I, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or short Declaration of Principles (DOP), was an attempt in 1993 to set up a framework that would lead to the resolution of th ...
, Da'as became President
Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat (4 or 24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004), also popularly known by his Kunya (Arabic), kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader. He was chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 to 2004, Presid ...
's personal military advisor and a deputy in the
Palestinian Legislative Council
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of the Palestinian National Authority, Palestinian Authority, elected by the Palestinians, Palestinian residents of the Palestinian territories of the Wes ...
.
Early life and service in the Jordanian Armed Forces
Mahmoud Da'as was born to ethnic Palestinian parents in
Hajjah, a village located in the
Qalqilya District of
Mandatory Palestine
Mandatory Palestine was a British Empire, British geopolitical entity that existed between 1920 and 1948 in the Palestine (region), region of Palestine, and after 1922, under the terms of the League of Nations's Mandate for Palestine.
After ...
.
Soon after his birth, his family relocated to the
Jordianian city of
al-Karak
Al-Karak (), in English sources often simply Karak, is a city in Jordan known for its medieval castle, the Kerak Castle. The castle is one of the three largest castles in the region, the other two being in Syria. Al-Karak is the capital city of ...
, where his father found work as policeman in the British-led security forces. Da'as completed his primary and secondary education in al-Karak, and then joined the
Royal Jordanian Army's academy. He qualified as military engineer, and was sent for further training to Great Britain as well as the United States.
After completing his training, Da'as joined the Jordanian Engineering Corps and gradually rose in the ranks. He was appointed commander of the 7th Company in the corps' 2nd Battalion, and was promoted to head of the entire 2nd Battalion and
lieutenant colonel. In 1957, he was arrested due to suspicions about his involvement in an
alleged military coup attempt. After his innocence was proven, he was released.
Da'as was again temporarily arrested in 1966, and joined the
Palestine Liberation Organisation
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO; ) is a Palestinian nationalist coalition that is internationally recognized as the official representative of the Palestinian people in both the occupied Palestinian territories and the diaspora. ...
(PLO) in the following year.
PLO career
In 1970, war broke out between the previously allied Jordanian government under
King Hussein
Hussein bin Talal (14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) was King of Jordan from 1952 until his death in 1999. As a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family of Jordan since 1921, Hussein was traditionally considered a 40th-generati ...
and the PLO led by
Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat (4 or 24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004), also popularly known by his Kunya (Arabic), kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader. He was chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 to 2004, Presid ...
. This conflict became known as the "
Black September
Black September (), also known as the Jordanian Civil War, was an armed conflict between Jordan, led by Hussein of Jordan, King Hussein, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), led by chairman Yasser Arafat. The main phase of the fight ...
", and resulted in the desertion of many Jordanian soldiers of Palestinian descent. Mahmoud was one of those who sided with the PLO,
and defected in
Jerash
Jerash (; , , ) is a city in northern Jordan. The city is the administrative center of the Jerash Governorate, and has a population of 50,745 as of 2015. It is located 30.0 miles north of the capital city Amman.
The earliest evidence of sett ...
.
He was appointed deputy commander of the PLO's so-called "Yarmouk Forces". Serving under
Saad Sayel, he consequently battled against his former comrades in the Royal Jordanian Army.
The PLO was defeated, and ousted from Jordan by mid-1971. Mahmoud relocated to Syria, where he took part in
Fatah
Fatah ( ; ), formally the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (), is a Palestinian nationalist and Arab socialist political party. It is the largest faction of the confederated multi-party Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and ...
's third conference at
Hamouriyah in September 1971. He was appointed member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah during this conference, and promoted to commander of the Yarmouk Forces in 1972.
He consequently assumed command of PLO troops stationed in
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon (, ; , ; ) is a mountain range in Lebanon. It is about long and averages above in elevation, with its peak at . The range provides a typical alpine climate year-round.
Mount Lebanon is well-known for its snow-covered mountains, ...
and the
Beqaa Valley
The Beqaa Valley (, ; Bekaa, Biqâ, Becaa) is a fertile valley in eastern Lebanon and its most important farming region. Industry, especially the country's agricultural industry, also flourishes in Beqaa. The region broadly corresponds to th ...
.
As experienced military engineer,
he was responsible for the construction of fortifications for Palestinian militants.

In the late 1970s, the PLO faced a crisis relating to its affairs in Africa. The organisation had forged a strong alliance with Uganda under
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 30 May 192816 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until Uganda–Tanzania War, his overthrow in 1979. He ruled as a Military dictatorship, ...
, establishing bases in the country where it trained about 400 fighters. When the
Uganda–Tanzania War
The Uganda–Tanzania War, known in Tanzania as the Kagera War (Kiswahili: ''Vita vya Kagera'') and in Uganda as the 1979 Liberation War, was fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979 and led to the overthrow of Ugand ...
broke out in 1978, the
Uganda Army quickly proved incapable in the face of the
Tanzania People's Defence Force
The Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) () is the military force of the United Republic of Tanzania. It was established in September 1964, following a mutiny by the former colonial military force, the Tanganyika Rifles. From its inception, ...
(TPDF), and Amin's regime began to collapse. The PLO high command was alarmed, fearing that the end of Amin's government would result in the ouster of the Palestinian militants from Uganda. The PLO consequently opted to fight alongside the Uganda Army and sent further reinforcements. Despite being aided by the PLO and Libya, the Uganda Army was completely defeated in the
Battle of Lukaya on 10–11 March 1979. Most PLO field commanders were wounded at Lukaya, whereupon Da'as was appointed replacement commander for Uganda. Realizing that the war was lost, he divided his remaining troops into two groups. One secured an escape route to Sudan, whereas the other took up defensive positions at Uganda's capital
Kampala
Kampala (, ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...
.
In late March, PLO troops were part of the garrison which
attempted to defend the strategic town of
Mpigi. The Tanzanians began
their attack on Kampala on 10 April 1979, and the PLO troops under Da'as reportedly resisted some time before retreating northward. He managed to bring his surviving men to Sudan despite being hindered by bad roads, a hostile population, and dangerous wildlife.
Da'as was appointed member of the Supreme Military Council of the Palestinian Revolution during Fatah's fourth conference in Damascus in May 1980.
He was also sent to
East Germany
East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...
, where he signed an agreement with General
Helmut Borufka (
de), inspector general of the
National People's Army
The National People's Army (, ; NVA ) were the armed forces of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (DDR) from 1956 until 1990.
The NVA was organized into four branches: the (Ground Forces), the (Navy), the (Air Force) and the (Bord ...
, on 19 April 1982. According to this agreement, the East German military would provide training to 20 PLO artillery commanders and technicians. In the next month, Israel invaded Lebanon, starting the
1982 Lebanon War
The 1982 Lebanon War, also called the Second Israeli invasion of Lebanon, began on 6 June 1982, when Israel invaded southern Lebanon. The invasion followed a series of attacks and counter-attacks between the Palestine Liberation Organization ...
. In course of this conflict, Da'as served as Director of Officer Affairs and Fortifications and took part in the fighting against the
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...
, including during the
Siege of Beirut
During the 1982 Lebanon War, the city of Beirut was besieged by Israel following the breakdown of the ceasefire that had been imposed by the United Nations amidst the Lebanese Civil War. Beginning in mid-June, the two-month-long siege resulted in ...
.
Following the war, he became Commander in Chief of the Palestinian Revolution Forces. By 1983, he also headed PLO special operations in Sudan and Yemen.
Da'as was appointed External Security Officer in the PLO's Political Department in 1985,
and was
brigadier
Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
by the following year. He subsequently rose to
major general and was promoted to head of the Security and Intelligence Committee in 1993. As result of the
Oslo I Accord
The Oslo I Accord or Oslo I, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or short Declaration of Principles (DOP), was an attempt in 1993 to set up a framework that would lead to the resolution of th ...
, Da'as and the rest of the PLO leadership was able to return to Palestine in 1994, and he became a candidate in the
1996 Palestinian general election
General elections were held for the first time in the Palestinian territories on 20 January 1996 to elect the President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the legislative arm o ...
. He was elected deputy in the
Palestinian Legislative Council
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of the Palestinian National Authority, Palestinian Authority, elected by the Palestinians, Palestinian residents of the Palestinian territories of the Wes ...
, holding a seat until 2005.
President Yasser Arafat made him his military advisor and a member of Palestine's Supreme National Security Council. Da'as continued to take part in important military and diplomatic missions in the name of the PLO and Fatah.
Having fallen terminally sick, Da'as moved to Jordan for treatment where he died
in 2009.
He was buried with full military honors
at his birthplace of Hajjah. The funeral was attended by several high-ranking Palestinian politicians and military officers as well as thousands of locals.
Notes
References
Citations
Works cited
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Da'as, Mahmoud
1934 births
2009 deaths
Fatah military commanders
Jordanian military personnel
Arab people in Mandatory Palestine
Military personnel of the Uganda–Tanzania War
Palestine Liberation Organization members
Palestinian refugees
People from Qalqilya
Members of the 1996 Palestinian Legislative Council