(9 of 10)
Rumors of a possible attack by the U.S. or Israel threw Popular Front commandos into a panic. On Friday afternoon, they suddenly ordered a four-man Red Cross medical team off the airstrip and turned back a Red Cross supply convoy that was on its way to the hostages. Then, while passengers and crew were hustled inside the stifling aircraft, demolition squads wired up explosive charges under the wings of each plane. Popular Front leaders demanded new guarantees from Red Cross negotiators that none of the five nations were contemplating a rescue attack on the airfield. Said Swiss Foreign Minister Pierre Graber: "If these assurances were not forthcoming, they said that they would push the button." The commandos got their assurances from the Western powers Friday night, but Israel stated its position carefully. Speaking on the state radio, Deputy Premier Yigal Allon said, "I would not suggest speaking about military measures at this moment. We must wait and see what will happen." Many Israelis interpreted this to mean their government was keeping its military options open.
At about the same time. P.F.L.P. leaders came under strong pressure to turn over bargaining responsibility to the Palestine Liberation Organization, an umbrella association of fedayeen groups that is dominated by Guerrilla Chief Yasser Arafat, the comparatively responsible leader of Al-Fatah. The other Palestinian organizations were eager to gain control over Popular Front actions because of stinging criticism that had been heaped on the hijackers by most Arab governments, including the commandos' usual allies Iraq and Syria. Popular Front officials reluctantly agreed to the evacuation of all hostages from the airstrip and to the release of some women and children from Amman's hotels. They also acquiesced in a firm bargaining position, which had already been worked out by the P.L.O.: to hold only Israelis "with military capability" for a separate deal involving Arab prisoners in Israel. All others could be freed in return for hijackers held in Europe.
Late Friday evening, shortly after two rabbis on the TWA jet had conducted an impromptu two-minute service, the commandos started to evacuate the aircraft. By midday Saturday, they had transported the remaining women and children by cars and trucks into Amman. Another 141 passengers, including all men aboard the three jets and ten Jewish and Israeli women (some with dual citizenship), were taken to another—and unannounced—location. After the two caravans departed, the Front's demolition experts did their work, and the three shiny jets were reduced to smoking rubble.