The clashes in Ain al-Hilweh, south of Sidon, do not subside before reigniting; today, Monday, rocket shells entered the line of battle, destroying neighborhoods in the camp and wounding bystanders and civilians in Sidon, particularly around the camp. Will the humanitarian truce mentioned by Sidon's MP Osama Saad succeed in reaching an agreement with Palestinian factions in Ain al-Hilweh to stop the fire, starting precisely at 9 PM local time today? According to UNRWA, 11 people were killed and 40 others were wounded in the Ain al-Hilweh clashes in southern Lebanon, including a member of the agency's team.
As the clashes intensified and expanded, dozens of families were displaced, seeking refuge in hospital entrances and safe neighborhoods for children and women who found themselves "suddenly" on the streets without basic necessities. In a humanitarian initiative, the Popular Committee in Sidon announced the opening of the عسقلان school in Mieh Mieh and the Nablus school in Sidon for the displaced. Despite the Palestinian embassy's instructions to the Palestinian National Security forces to adhere to the ceasefire decision, the clashes expanded to include fronts in the Burkassat, Al-Tawarit, and Hittin areas within the camp. The city of Sidon did not escape the projectiles and stray bullets, which injured several citizens and inflicted damage on multiple buildings and establishments, especially the Aisha Um al-Mu'minin School affiliated with the Islamic Charitable Society. The clashes also caused damage to solar panels on several buildings.
Reports indicate that "Fatah" is conducting a security operation against "extremist" elements in Ain al-Hilweh camp, exchanging RPG fire around the UNRWA hospital. The Lebanese Army has taken precautionary positions on the hills overlooking Ain al-Hilweh, particularly on the hills of Maghdouche, and its forces have been put on high alert.
Threats were made by Fatah's Secretary in the Sidon area, Major General Maher Shbeita, in a call with "Warda," stating: "If the suspects and the dead are not surrendered, there will be other measures, and we will use all means to reach them." He called for the handover of the dead, noting that "this is the only solution for things to return to normal in Ain al-Hilweh" and expressed that "this crime is difficult for us."
Further communication occurred between Lebanese MP Sami Jumblatt and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas via phone to discuss the latest developments in Ain al-Hilweh, emphasizing the need to disarm Palestinian camps and enforce state authority, which is a priority demand by Palestinians. Abbas confirmed to MP Jumblatt the authority of the Lebanese Army and the state in all matters concerning the Palestinian camps, stressing the necessity of adherence to Lebanese decisions and laws.
Houri, the former deputy and president of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, contacted Army Commander General Joseph Aoun to discuss the ongoing clashes in Ain al-Hilweh and their direct implications on Sidon. Houri also monitored the situation in the camp and the city, speaking with various officials.
She said: "The events in Ain al-Hilweh have struck Sidon hard, and their continuation will only result in more tragedies and suffering for the residents of the camp and the surrounding area, particularly families forced to leave their homes."
MP Abdul Rahman al-Bizri visited the injured from the events in Sidon at both "Labib Medical Center" and "Al-Hamshari Hospital," where he was briefed on the patients’ conditions and the medical measures taken to assist them.
Fatah’s Secretary and the factions of the Palestinian Liberation Organization in Lebanon, Fatih Abu al-Ardat, announced, "We are heading towards a truce and to stop firing at the camp," confirming that "the safety and protection of our people is a priority, and it is a trust in our care like the blood of martyrs." He stated: "We must identify the perpetrators and bring them to Lebanese justice for things to be rectified and for souls to find peace." Abu al-Ardat affirmed Fatah's commitment to the ceasefire, emphasizing that the decision was made during a meeting held in Sidon under the auspices of Amal Movement with the Joint Action Committee, where it was also agreed to form a committee to investigate the perpetrators and turn them over to Lebanese justice.
It was noted that following the martyrdom of General Abu Ashraf al-Armooshi, there was difficulty in controlling the situation quickly; however, the emphasis of Palestinian leadership and the Lebanese security services, along with Sidon's MPs and political forces, has managed to stabilize security. He revealed that "we have leads in the assassination case, and while I don't want to preempt the investigation committee, we stress the need to refer the criminals to Lebanese justice, which is the security and judicial reference."
The Islamic forces within the camp condemned the continued firing on civilians and places of worship, expressing their commitment to the security and stability of the camp and its surroundings, stating: "We reject harming our brethren and will strive to calm the situation and stop the fire."
Intermittent clashes were reported this morning in Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon, between Fatah and Islamist groups, with sounds of gunfire and rocket shells heard. The fighting continued throughout the night, intermittently, until the early hours of dawn, with stray bullets hitting neighborhoods in Sidon, including around Sidon Serail, where a young man was wounded while attempting to enter a shop.
A meeting was held at the headquarters of the Popular Nasserite Organization in Sidon, attended by MP Osama Saad, Fatah's Secretary of the Palestinian Liberation Organization Fatih Abu al-Ardat, and the political official of the Islamic Group in the South, Dr. Bassam Hamoud. They agreed on the necessity of halting fire, withdrawing armed individuals, and forming an investigative committee regarding the assassination of al-Armooshi and his companions.
Previous mediation attempts to curb the tension and restore calm in the camp have been unsuccessful. The clashes that flared up yesterday resulted in 9 deaths and dozens of injuries, leading to extensive material damage to homes, vehicles, and public property.
Dr. Hamoud, the Deputy Chairman of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Group in Lebanon, visited the emergency shelter at the Al-Mosaly Mosque, taking stock of the conditions of those displaced by the conflicts in Ain al-Hilweh and noting that relief committees had ensured all necessary supplies for their reception.
He lamented "this tragic reality faced by our Lebanese and Palestinian people who have fled the camp and urban areas due to the recklessness and crimes of those who brought about the current conditions." He renewed the call for "reason and dialogue to prevail and to halt these pointless clashes, as no one wins; everyone loses in this pitiful image of women, children, and the elderly sleeping in the open and in displacement centers."
In response, MP Abdul Rahman al-Bizri emphasized that "what is happening in Ain al-Hilweh reflects years of unchecked security situations due to government policies allowing the entry and exit of factions facing security issues."
He suggested that "the demand today is to manage the situation without framing it as a conspiracy. There is no suspicious timing as asserted by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati; any clash can have a wrong timing, hence there is no specific timing for an outbreak of tension."
The director of Al-Hamshari Hospital in Sidon, Riyad Abu Al-Aynayn, stated in a contact with the National News Agency that "11 injuries from Ain al-Hilweh have been admitted since this morning, including a serious injury." The hospital had received 25 injuries the previous day, raising the total number of injured to 36. Abu Al-Aynayn highlighted that "the hospital is fully prepared to fulfill its medical and humanitarian role and has evacuated stable cases to accommodate emergency cases due to the new security situation in Ain al-Hilweh." He noted that "the hospital was hit by two shells due to the clashes."
The Lebanese University President Bassam Badran announced the extension of the closure of its branches in Sidon until Tuesday, August 1, 2023, due to developments in the security situation in the city.
Additionally, South Governor Mansour Dagh announced in a statement the continued suspension of operations of the official administrations in Sidon Serail on Tuesday, due to the unstable security conditions in the city as a result of the clashes in Ain al-Hilweh.
