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The National
2 days ago
- General
- The National
PLO officials in Beirut to advance disarmament of Palestinian refugee camps
A delegation led by deputy head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Azzam Al Ahmad is in Beirut to discuss operational steps for implementing a multiphase plan to disarm Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps in the coming weeks, a Palestinian source close to the Palestinian Authority told The National on Monday – despite the absence of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from the decision-making process. 'We aim to establish and agree on the operational steps for implementing the camp disarmament plan in line with the agreement between Presidents Aoun and Abbas,' the source said. 'This visit is meant to organise those practical steps from both the Lebanese and Palestinian sides.' However, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has not held any formal talks with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad regarding the disarmament of the refugee camps, the source confirmed. 'We have not held talks with Hamas or Islamic Jihad, though we did discuss the developments with some factions during President Abbas's visit,' the source added. The National previously reported that Hamas in Lebanon has criticised the Palestinian Authority's decision to disarm the camps in co-ordination with Lebanese authorities, saying it was made without their input. 'We call on the Lebanese government to open a responsible dialogue with the Joint Palestinian Action Committee, which includes all Palestinian factions and forces, to discuss the Palestinian situation in all its aspects,' Hamas's representative in Lebanon, Ali Baraka, told The National in late May. 'Limiting the discussion to the security framework alone could open the door to the trap of resettlement or displacement, which is what [Israel] seeks,' he said. Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha also criticised the initiative, describing the decision as 'representing only the Palestinian Authority'. According to the source close to the PA, the disarmament plan will begin in the three Beirut-area camps of Shatila, Bourj Al Barajneh, and Mar Elias, before expanding into the Bekaa and northern Lebanon. The final phase would see the camps in the south disarmed, ending with Ain Al Hilweh – the largest and most heavily armed of the 12 camps and the most likely challenge. The issue of disarming Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, which fall outside Lebanese state control, has long been a contentious one. Armed groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – aligned with Hezbollah and committed to armed resistance against Israel – have previously used Lebanon as a launch pad for attacks across the border. The Palestinian Authority is internationally recognised as the governing body of parts of the Palestinian territories, but its legitimacy is contested by many Palestinians. In Lebanon, Palestinian refugee camps are not governed by the PA, but by inter-factional committees – some of whom do not pledge loyalty to the PA. While some Palestinians view weapons as essential for self-defence, citing memories of the 1975–1990 Lebanese Civil War, others say arms have become tools of internal strife and criminal activity. Under a long-standing understanding, the Lebanese army does not enter the Palestinian camps, leaving security to be handled by the factions themselves. That agreement, however, may be coming to an end. Lebanese security sources and Fatah officials previously told The National that the plan to disarm the camps will involve lifting the army's non-intervention policy. 'The discussions during the visit are focused on camp security and preventing the camps from becoming havens for fugitives,' the Palestinian source said. 'The Palestinian Authority does not want Palestinians to form a 'state within a state,' and we are ready to co-operate with any proposal put forward by the Lebanese authorities.' Serhan Serhan, deputy secretary of Fatah in Lebanon, echoed that position. 'We believe and trust that the Lebanese army will stabilise Lebanon, and we are part of Lebanon,' he said. 'We are ready to co-operate.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon to Tackle Arms in Beirut Palestinian Refugee Camps in June, as Aoun Meets Hezbollah MPs
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced on Monday that authorities will begin tackling the issue of weapons in three Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut in mid-June. Lebanese-Palestinian committees have been formed to handle the task, he added. Lebanon is home to 12 Palestinian refugee camps. Aoun received a US Congressional delegation, headed by Senator Angus King, at the Baabda presidential palace on Monday. Aoun told them that the lifting of American sanctions off Syria was a step in the right direction because it will help resolve the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. He reiterated previous statements made by other Lebanese officials that the United Nations must offer the refugees assistance in their home country, not in Lebanon. Some 800,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Lebanon, but officials say the figure is much higher given the number of unregistered refugees. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had visited Lebanon last week where he met with Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Discussions focused on the need to remove weapons from the Palestinian refugee camps and for the Lebanese state to have monopoly over arms in the country. Salam and Abbas announced the formation of a joint Lebanese-Palestinian executive committee that will carry out the agreements. It held its first meeting on Friday. The issue of state monopoly over arms is a priority for the international community, which has been pressing Lebanon to make progress in this issue as the country seeks aid in the reconstruction following the war between Israel and Hezbollah last year. Hezbollah's weapons Hezbollah's arsenal is another focus of the international community and Lebanese efforts. Aoun had vowed during his swearing in speech that only the state will have monopoly over arms. A Hezbollah parliamentary delegation met with Aoun on Monday on the occasion of the 25th Resistance and Liberation Day, which fell on Sunday. Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem marked the occasion by declaring that the war with Israel 'is not over', accusing it of failing to respect the ceasefire. 'Do not ask anything from us. Let Israel withdraw from Lebanese positions, cease its attacks and release the prisoners. Only then will we talk,' he added. Aoun had previously declared that he will hold dialogue with Hezbollah over its need to lay down its arms. Berri, a Hezbollah ally, has said he will support and facilitate his efforts, government sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. Ministerial sources revealed that Aoun is hoping to make progress in this file before next year's parliamentary elections in May. Following the meeting with the president on Monday, Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad said discussions focused on preserving Lebanon's national sovereignty and ending the Israeli occupation of five Lebanese positions. 'There are no closed doors in the exchange of ideas with the president. There is a lot of room for understanding,' he remarked. 'We do not believe we should be committed to a timing, place or mechanism, as long as the president is keen on achieving priorities, starting with preserving sovereignty, ending the occupation and ending Israeli violations.' The Hezbollah delegation met with Berri earlier on Monday. Informed sources described the meeting as positive. Raad said: 'The people of the South are banking on the resistance (Hezbollah) in liberating occupied territory in order to pave the way for the reconstruction of destroyed villages.'
The National
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Lebanon confirms disarming of Palestinian refugee camps to begin in mid-June
Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday confirmed the process to disarm Palestinian refugee camps in the country will begin in mid-June. The National reported the likely date last week and Mr Aoun confirmed the process will begin despite criticism from Hamas, which says the demilitarisation framework was adopted without its representation. "We have formed Lebanese-Palestinian committees, and work will begin in the middle of next month in three Palestinian camps in Beirut to address the issue of the presence of Palestinian weapons there,' Mr Aoun told a US delegation. Last week, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Lebanese security officials and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's visiting delegation met in Beirut to discuss the process. Nadine Marouk, director of the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee − an interministerial group that analyses Lebanese government policy towards Palestinian refugees − said any disarmament would happen 'with close co-ordination with the Palestinian security forces'. 'Mid-June has been set as a start date with no detailed timeline," Ms Marouk added. "Intensive meetings will take place in the coming days and in the coming two to three weeks,' she said. A Lebanese government official told The National \disarmament would begin in Shatila, Burj Al Barajneh and Mar Elias camps in Beirut, before moving on to other parts of the country. The move to disarm is based on an accord with Mr Abbas. Hamas − a rival of Mr Abbas's Fatah faction that dominates the PA − said all Palestinian groups should have been included in the decision. 'What was included in the joint Lebanese-Palestinian statement represents only the Palestinian Authority. We did not participate in the outcomes of the meeting,' said Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha. 'It would have been more appropriate for it to emerge from the Joint Palestinian Action Committee and be adopted by President Mahmoud Abbas.' The Joint Palestinian Action Committee represents all Palestinian groups in Lebanon. The issue of disarming Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps, which are not under Lebanese state control, has long been contentious. Groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, dedicated to armed resistance against Israel and allied with Hezbollah, have frequently used Lebanon as a base to launch rockets at Israel. Many Palestinians who recall Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war see weapons as necessary for self-defence in the refugee camps. But others maintain that arms have become tools for drug-related violence and internal political rivalries. Lebanon hosts about 222,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom live in the 12 overcrowded camps, according to the UN agency UNRWA. Most are direct refugees or descendants of Palestinians who were expelled from their land during a violent mass removal that led to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. They face a variety of legal restrictions in Lebanon, including on employment.
LBCI
26-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
President Aoun backs Syria sanctions relief, announces plan to address arms in Palestinian camps
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told a visiting U.S. delegation led by Senator Angus King that lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria was a "good option," arguing that a stronger Syrian economy could support the return of refugees currently residing in Lebanon. 'The improvement of Syria's economy would help address the refugee crisis,' Aoun said, adding that Syrian refugees should return home and take part in rebuilding their country. He also called on the United Nations to redirect humanitarian assistance to displaced Syrians inside Syria rather than in Lebanon. On another front, Aoun said Lebanon has formed joint Lebanese-Palestinian committees to address the issue of weapons in Palestinian camps. He added that work would begin in mid-June in three Palestinian camps in Beirut to tackle the presence of arms there.
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Lebanon begins drive to defang militant groups
Lebanese authorities are pushing to disarm Palestinian refugee camps as part of a drive to defang Hizbullah and other militant groups, potentially ending a decades-long Palestinian armed presence in the country. Visiting Beirut in recent days, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas – whose Palestine Liberation Organisation and Fatah party have a powerful presence in Lebanon's impoverished refugee camps – agreed with Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam on 'completely closing the file of Palestinian weapons outside or inside the camps'. In a joint statement with President Joseph Aoun, Abbas agreed that the 'time for weapons outside the authority of the Lebanese state is over'. Abbas does not control Lebanon's most heavily armed factions, which include Hamas and smaller Islamist groups. But Lebanese and Palestinian authorities hope their official joint stance will pile pressure on factions reluctant to disarm, in a country whose army has long been a relatively weak entity rivalled by powerful militant groups. READ MORE Lebanon – which has been devastated by Israel's latest military campaign against Hizbullah, while battling an economic crisis – needs foreign backing to rebuild, but donors such as the US want to see Hizbullah and Palestinian groups defanged. The country has also faced continuing Israeli air strikes targeting Hamas members since Israel's ceasefire deal with Hizbullah, adding to pressure to push militants to disarm. 'Abu Mazen [Abbas] has no say over Hamas's weapons. But Abu Mazen is the legitimate president of the Palestinians before [international bodies] ... any Palestinians who rebel are then seen as rogue,' said Hesham Dibsi, a former PLO leader and director of the Tatweer Center for Studies. '[The official Palestinian position] grants the Lebanese authorities the right to suppress anyone who goes against it.' Some see the focus on Palestinians as a deflection from the thornier issue of weapons held by Hizbullah, a powerful military and political force. But Lebanese authorities hope a push to disarm refugee camps – established after Palestinians were forcibly displaced by Israel's creation in 1948 – could show they mean business on Hizbullah. They also hope it would prevent Hizbullah from citing the existence of other armed groups in pushing back against calls for it to surrender its weapons. 'This is basically a test for what comes later. It's what we have to do with Hizbullah. That's how the Lebanese are seeing this,' said Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Center in Beirut. Armed Palestinian factions have run security in refugee camps since a 1969 agreement between Beirut and the PLO under which Lebanese forces withdrew from the camps. The PLO's leadership was forced into exile by the 1982 Israeli invasion and its members handed over heavy weapons to the state in the early 1990s as Lebanon's bloody civil war, in which they played a major role, came to a close. The organisation long ago gave up on using Lebanon as a base to resist Israeli occupation. Today, its cadres in Lebanon busy themselves with local governance in refugee camps, their light arms used mainly in clashes with other factions. Groups backed by the Assad regime in Syria, such as the PFLP-General Command, maintained a heavier armed presence. A third set of Palestinian factions – Islamists such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and smaller groups aligned with Iran's so-called axis of resistance – have grown powerful in recent decades, bolstered by Tehran and Hizbullah. Hamas, IJ, and the leftist PFLP sent fighters to back Hizbullah's side in its latest war with Israel. That war ended with a ceasefire deal in which the Lebanese government agreed to disarm Hizbullah and implement a 2006 UN resolution calling for disarmament of non-state groups. Lebanon's president and prime minister have both said it is their mission to 'restrict weapons to the hands of the state'. While Hizbullah has allowed much of its arsenal south of the Litani river – about 30km from Lebanon's southern border – to be dismantled, it has resisted handing over other weapons. The group, weakened by its conflict with Israel, has said relinquishing more weaponry would require 'dialogue' and could not begin before a full Israeli withdrawal. In the meantime Lebanese authorities are seeking to defang Palestinian factions they view as a source of instability, now without cover from Assad and Hizbullah. After the fall of Syria's Assad regime in December, the Lebanese army was quick to take over military bases held by Syria-backed Palestinian factions. The government has also taken a tougher stance towards Hamas. It blamed the group for two rocket launches from Lebanon into Israel in March and warned 'against using Lebanese territory for anything that impacts Lebanese national security', threatening 'strict measures' for noncompliance. Hamas has handed over all but one suspect in the attacks to Lebanese authorities. Factions wary of disarmament insist any deal on weapons must include civil rights for Palestinians, who are banned from most jobs and from owning property outside camps. Fatah leaders maintain the two issues can be handled separately. Ali Barakeh, head of national relations for Hamas, urged a 'comprehensive approach' to Palestinians in Lebanon, calling on Beirut to discuss social rights alongside security with all Palestinian factions. He warned against 'restricting the discussion to the security framework'. Many factions reluctant to disarm entirely have taken a similar tone. In the PFLP offices in the tiny Beirut refugee camp of Mar Elias, political chief Abdullah Dinan said his group would support 'regulation' of their weapons in exchange for civil rights. But he opposed handing them over. Yet Fatah cadres are hopeful. Wearing a PLO scarf, Mohammad Rachid Abu Rachid, who heads the committee on governance in southern Lebanon's Burj Shmali camp, was confident Abbas would push for improved conditions. 'Weapons are not the fundamental issue for us, rather it's the right to own property and basic civil rights,' he said. Yet the Lebanese are unlikely to amend those laws, with Lebanon's sectarian powersharing system stigmatising anything seen as including majority-Sunni Palestinians. Beirut has promised to create conditions for a 'dignified life' for refugees, without offering details. Another potential issue are small Islamist factions in the Ein el Hilweh camp in southern Lebanon, where fighting between them and Fatah in 2023 displaced thousands. Showing the scale of the disarmament challenge, the plans have already sparked fiery rejections – even from groups relatively unknown to security services. A group calling itself 'Fatah-The Storm-The New Line' in Ein el Hilweh on Friday released a statement calling camp weapons 'a red line' and denouncing efforts to remove them. Lebanese and Palestinian authorities set up a joint committee on implementation and hope to start disarmament this summer. But it remains unclear what that will look like. Anis Mohsen, a Palestinian analyst and editor in Beirut, said: 'What's the plan? There's no plan. So what's being said now is purely a cover for the inability to implement something else ... to cover up their inability to take away Hizbullah's weapons.' − Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
