2023-08-02 07:54:07
A state of “relative calm and caution” has prevailed in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, since Wednesday morning, coinciding with the entry into force of a truce that ended about 4 days of clashes.
This comes despite the sound of intermittent gunfire this morning in some parts of the camp, and at a low rate, according to what the Al-Araby correspondent in Beirut reported.
The “Palestinian Joint Action Committee” announced the formation of a field committee to stabilize the cease-fire, assigning a committee to investigate the assassination of Major General Abu Ashraf Al-Armoushi and lift the cover for the perpetrators of the operation.
Since Saturday evening, the camp has witnessed the fiercest clashes in years inside the largest and most densely populated Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, between members of the Fatah movement and others belonging to extremist groups.
The confrontations resulted in the killing of 11 people, including a leader in the Fatah movement and four of his comrades who were killed in an ambush on Sunday. In addition, 40 people were injured, according to a toll announced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees “UNRWA” on Monday.
Will the truce hold this time?
On Tuesday evening, clashes renewed in the camp, after the end of a meeting between Palestinian and Lebanese officials at Dar al-Fatwa in Sidon, headed by the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Salim Soussan.
According to Al-Araby’s correspondent in Beirut, the truce did not last for more than three hours, especially since the clashes were renewed at more than one point inside the Ain Al-Hilweh camp before midnight yesterday.
Our correspondent indicates that the clashes continued, albeit at an intermittent pace and less intense than before, whether by firing shells or sporadic bullets.
She pointed out that the truce provided an opportunity for the civilians present and trapped inside the neighborhoods that witnessed the most intense fire, to get out of the camp.
The process of displacement from Ain al-Hilweh camp continues
According to our correspondent, the displacement process from Ain al-Hilweh camp is continuing, despite the agreement that was announced, as a result of a meeting that took place between the Palestinian factions at the Palestinian embassy in Beirut.
Al-Araby’s correspondent reports on press leaks that the agreement appears to be unilateral, given that Islamist and extremist groups were not present at the negotiating table.
According to local newspapers, there are Lebanese parties and personalities seeking with these parties to abide by the ceasefire, but there is no firm information in this context so far.
Our correspondent concludes that the cease-fire is a formality, and it is a political decision, but its translation on the ground is still difficult, for many reasons and considerations.
The battles broke out in Ain al-Hilweh camp, following an assassination attempt against the “Islamic” leader, Muhammad Abu Qatada, in the al-Safsaf neighborhood, which led to the death of the young man, Abd Farhood, while he was passing through the neighborhood, and the injury of others, including children.
The battles escalated, following the assassination of gunmen, the National Security Commander in the city of Sidon, Brigadier General Abu Ashraf Al-Armoushi and his companions, on Sunday afternoon, leaving great destruction within the camp’s neighborhoods, especially the emergency and reconstruction neighborhoods, which witnessed fierce battles, in addition to the Hittin and Al-Ras Al-Ahmar neighborhoods, as the battles extended to Jabal al-Halib area, causing material damage and fires to the homes and properties of Palestinian refugees.
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