Palestinian factions in Lebanon, under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), have begun a process of handing over weapons to the Lebanese army. This initiative aims to address a long-standing issue of armed Palestinian groups operating within refugee camps, which are largely outside state control.
Abdel Hadi al-Asadi of the PLO stated that the group has delivered “new batches of weapons.” The Lebanese army confirmed this, reporting that it received “five truckloads of weapons from the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon” and “three trucks from the Beddawi camp in Tripoli.” The delivery included “various types of weapons, shells, and ammunition.”
Details of the Handover
- Ain al-Hilweh Camp: The largest camp in Lebanon, located in Sidon, handed over five truckloads of weapons. Lebanese army vehicles were stationed around the camp to prevent anyone from approaching.
- Beddawi Camp: Near the northern city of Tripoli, this camp handed over three truckloads. A journalist witnessed three covered trucks leaving the camp, with Lebanese army vehicles waiting for them outside.
The PLO, which initiated this handover, does not include Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad. These two groups have not announced any plans to disarm in Lebanon. Lebanon hosts approximately 222,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom live in overcrowded camps. The Beddawi camp was hit last year by Israeli strikes that killed a Hamas commander and his family.
