Palestinian groups in Lebanon’s largest refugee camp turned over weapons on Saturday as part of the government’s initiative to disarm non-state entities, a Palestinian official disclosed.
Abdel Hadi al-Asadi from the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) mentioned that the umbrella organization executed “the operation of delivering new batches of weapons.”
The Lebanese army confirmed receiving “five truckloads of weapons from the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon,” the largest camp in Lebanon, and “three trucks from the Beddawi camp in Tripoli.”
According to the army, the delivery comprised various types of weapons, shells, and ammunition.
Reportedly, there were Lebanese army vehicles stationed around Ain al-Hilweh, preventing unauthorized access to the camp.
Last year, the densely-populated Beddawi camp near Tripoli was targeted by Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the death of a Hamas commander, his wife, and two daughters, as per the Palestinian militant group.
In Beddawi, an AFP journalist observed three covered trucks departing the camp, with Lebanese army vehicles awaiting them outside.
While the PLO has initiated the weapon handover process, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, not affiliated with the PLO, have not declared intentions to disarm in Lebanon.
The United Nations agency UNRWA estimates that Lebanon hosts approximately 222,000 Palestinian refugees, many residing in overcrowded camps beyond the state’s jurisdiction.
Following discussions between Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a visit to Beirut in May, an agreement was reached to transfer weapons in Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps to Lebanese authorities.
The disarmament process commenced with the army receiving weapons from camps in and around Beirut and southern Lebanon last month.
During a period of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah culminating in a November ceasefire, Palestinian factions, including Hamas, claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on Israel.
The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, overseen by the Lebanese prime minister’s office, stated that it is engaging in talks with various Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, to facilitate the disarmament efforts and assert sovereignty over all Lebanese territory.
Traditionally, the Lebanese army refrains from intervening in Palestinian camps, leaving security matters to Palestinian factions.
Hezbollah, Lebanon’s dominant political force, has opposed the disarmament campaign, which aims to consolidate weapons under the control of the army. Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi outlined Beirut’s plan to disarm the border region with Israel within three months as the initial step in a five-phase process.