Lebanese PM Threatens to Send Army to Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian Refugee Camp
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has issued a stern warning that he may deploy the army to the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp after a series of deadly clashes erupted recently. Mikati has urged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to intervene and put an end to the hostilities between Palestinian factions within the camp.
Describing the ongoing clashes as a violation of Lebanese sovereignty, Mikati criticized the armed groups for terrorizing Lebanese citizens, particularly those residing in the southern region of the country. The fighting, which has been ongoing since Sunday, saw a brief respite on Thursday.
The tension escalated after Abbas’s Fatah party accused armed groups Jund al-Sham and Shabab al-Muslim of assassinating Fatah military general Abu Ashraf al-Armoushi within the camp. As a result, many residents have sought refuge in nearby mosques and schools. Local stores and roads remain closed, effectively trapping people inside the camp.
The UN refugee agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has reported that 600 displaced individuals are seeking shelter in two of its schools. However, due to the ongoing violence, UNRWA has been unable to enter the camp and provide assistance.
The armed groups further aggravated the situation by breaking a ceasefire agreement and launching an attack on a Fatah center within the camp. Fatah’s head in the Sidon region revealed that the armed groups’ ultimate objective is to destroy the camp.
In response to the escalating violence, Palestinian factions within Ein el-Hilweh have formed an investigative committee to determine the parties responsible for al-Armoushi’s killing.
Established in 1948, Ein el-Hilweh is one of 12 camps in Lebanon designed for Palestinian refugees. Historically, the camp has been plagued by violence, involving clashes between Palestinian factions and Lebanese forces.
While the Lebanese army rarely intervenes within the camps, some officials are now calling for the army to assume control in light of the recent clashes, seeking to restore peace and stability to Ein el-Hilweh.
