Hayel Abdul Hamid (1937-1991)

2015-12-23

In 1937, Hayel Abdul Hamid (Abu al Hol) was born in the Safad city. 

In 1948, Abu al Hol and his family were displaced to Syria. After he had arrived to Damascus, he deserted his family and tried to go back to Safad and fight against Israeli military organisations. 

At school in Damascus, he took part in demonstrations and gatherings organised on national occasions. 

In his early youth, Abu al Hol sought to establish an organisation of Palestinian refugees in Syria. In tandem with the then prevalent national trends, he constituted the Arabs of Palestine organisation. At that time, political organisations were banned in Syria. 

To preserve the Palestinian national identity and dignity, Abu al Hol led in 1957 a Palestinian movement to demand that Palestinian refugees be granted the same civil rights as Syrian citizens, with the exception of nationality and passport. Chaired by Akram al Hourani, the Syrian Parliament approved the Palestinian request. 

In 1960, the Arabs of Palestine organisation, which Abu al Hol had established in Syria, joined Fatah. 

Abu al Hol cofounded Fatah branch offices in Germany and Austria. In 1964, he contributed to establishing the Fatah branch office in Cairo. He was appointed Fatah Secretary in Cairo. 

In 1972, Abu al Hol was admitted to the Fatah – Lebanon Region. 

In autumn 1983, Abu al Hol, Khalil al Wazir (Abu Jihad) and Yasser Arafat were besieged in Tripoli by dissidents and Syrian forces. On 19 December 1983, Abu al Hol left Tripoli by sea in company with Yasser Arafat and Palestinian Revolution Forces. 

Besides Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad), Abu al Hol was in charge of the Fatah Security and Information Agency. 

After Khalil al Wazir (Abu Jihad) had been martyred, Abu al Hol was appointed Commissioner of the Occupied Territory Agency in addition to his responsibilities at the Fatah Security Agency. He maintained this position until he was martyred on 14 January 1991 in Kartaj, Tunisia. Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) and Fakhri al ‘Umari (Abu Mohammed) were also killed with Abu al Hol. The PLO held the Israeli Intelligence Agency (Mossad) responsible for assassinating them. The Abu Nidhal group carried out the assassination.