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The following are excerpts from an interview with Muhammad Dahlan, former PA security chief in Gaza, which aired on Palestinian Authority TV on January 4, 2010.
Muhammad Dahlan: I was astounded by what Hamas did, even on the human and moral level. They summoned Fatah girls, and violated their honor in prison, during the interrogation, using words that even the Israelis wouldn't use. I'm sad to say this. I don't understand how Ismail Haniya can sit at home, and not feel ashamed of the things done by Hamas. I am not talking about the political conflict, or about the disagreement over the national issues. I am talking about human conduct and about Palestinian conduct.
Once, in 1982-1983, we wanted to incite against Israel, so we spread a false story, which we fabricated, that the Israelis had attacked a Palestinian girl, and thus, demonstrations and rallies ensued. Hamas cannot continue to employ this logic. They should not try the patience of the Fatah activists towards Hamas. If they think Fatah is not capable of doing anything, they are mistaken. Sabotage is the easiest thing to do. I have tried this. I tried this in the resistance against the occupation, and I tried it when I was in the PA, and was responsible for maintaining law and order. I am not making threats, but I advise them not to put the patience of Fatah activists to the test.
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We do not want to restore PA rule in Gaza through force and the use of weapons. But how are we to interpret the conduct of Hamas, which summons girls and attacks them in its prisons, merely because they raised a [Fatah] flag? What logic is there in raiding a house and killing an old woman, merely because she defended her sons?
Smuggling through the tunnels – fine. The wealth of Hamas leaders and PLC members – fine. Smuggling all kinds of forbidden things – fine. Hamas is getting richer, while the people are getting poorer – fine. The people are under siege, yet Hamas leaders travel all over the world – no problem. But when a Palestinian cannot feel safe in his own home, merely because he raised the yellow [Fatah] flag… If Hamas is terrified by this yellow flag – you can imagine what it would be like if Fatah activists get mad and use violence.