Prime Minister Najib Mikati indicated that "the timing of the Palestinian clashes in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, amid the current regional and international circumstances, is suspicious and falls within the context of repeated attempts to use the Lebanese arena to settle external scores at the expense of Lebanon and the Lebanese people. The coincidence of these clashes with Egypt's efforts to stop Palestinian-Palestinian disputes is also in line with the messages being used with the Lebanese arena as a starting point."
In a statement, he said: "These clashes are unacceptable for several reasons, the first of which is that they solidify the camp as a hub outside the state's control, which is entirely unacceptable and requires a strict decision from the Palestinian leadership to respect Lebanese sovereignty and relevant laws of hospitality. Furthermore, these clashes constitute a blow to the core of the Palestinian cause, for which thousands of martyrs have fallen, and for which the Palestinian people have made immense sacrifices both at home and in exile."
He added: "We call on the Palestinian leadership to cooperate with the army to stabilize the security situation and hand over those disrupting security to the Lebanese authorities. This is the natural way to restore security and stability within the camp and its surroundings, as well as in all Palestinian camps in Lebanon. We also request that the army and security agencies control the situation in the camp, as it serves the interests of both Lebanon and the Palestinian refugees."
Mikati concluded: "The government is working hard to improve the living conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through the adoption of the national strategy for Palestinian refugees. However, all concerned Palestinian parties must put an end to the phenomenon of repeated clashes."
