Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas sacked a top security chief on Friday who commanded the forces crashed by Hamas in Gaza Strip last week, officials said. Abbas issued a decree firing Rashid Abu Shbak, the head of domestic security and a leader in Fatah movement, saying he "is stripped of his tasks as general director."
Abbas had rejected an offer from Abu Shbak to step down a month ago over a feud with a minister of the national unity government. An aide to Abu Shbak told Reuters Abbas had delayed his decision about letting him resign until today.
Abu Shbak became the target of criticism from his own men after Fatah's forces collapsed in Gaza last week, allowing Hamas to seize full control of the coastal territory.
