Until July 2007, Dahlan was regarded as the de facto PA security chief
in the Gaza Strip. At one point, Dahlan commanded nearly 70,000 Fatah and PA
forces, routed by Hamas in its takeover of the Gaza Strip.
Dahlan left the Gaza Strip days before the Hamas takeover. After more
than a year abroad, he settled in the West Bank city of Ramallah and
became the leading adviser to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
The bombing on July 21 took place as Dahlan's nephew, Mahmoud, stepped
on the podium to get married. Mahmoud, regarded as a senior Fatah security
operative, was said to have been injured in the blast.
Hamas has launched a crackdown on clans aligned with Fatah. On July 14,
Hamas forces raided a wedding held by the Al Madhoun clan in the northern
Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. Four revelers were shot and injured after a
portrait of Samih Al Madhoun, a Fatah commander killed in the Hamas
takeover, was hoisted during the wedding.
No organization has claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Dahlan
wedding. The Hamas Interior Ministry said three suspects in the bombing have
been arrested.
But Fatah has blamed Hamas for the blast. The sources said Dahlan
relatives received phone calls 15 minutes before the blast to leave the
wedding.