Mahmoud Da'as

Mahmoud Da'as (, also known by his kunya Abu Khalid; 1934 – 2009) was a high-ranking commander of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), serving as long-time member of Fatah'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 of 1970. He consequently rose in the ranks of the PLO, and became an important military commander in the Arab–Israeli conflict, taking part in missions in Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and Uganda. Following the Oslo I Accord, Da'as became President Yasser Arafat's personal military advisor and a deputy in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

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. Soon after his birth, his family relocated to the Jordianian city of al-Karak, 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.

Mahmoud Da'as unsuccessfully fought to save the Ugandan regime of Idi Amin (pictured) during the Uganda–Tanzania War.

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, establishing bases in the country where it trained about 400 fighters. When the Uganda–Tanzania War broke out in 1978, the Uganda Army quickly proved incapable in the face of the Tanzania People's Defence Force (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. 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.