In Gaza hundreds of posters of Mr Abbas with a black X across his face appeared in public places, and relatives of the victims of the winter's military operation were throwing shoes at his picture, a reference to the shoe hurled in contempt at the then American president, George Bush, in Iraq.
He sometimes struts around the clubhouse wearing a T-shirt with his own picture on it and a bright red cap that says "JV1" a reference to his initials and uniform number.