The Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp witnessed sporadic clashes and the assassination of an Islamist element today, Thursday, following a heated night where rocket fire was used for the first time, targeting the heart of Sidon and its surroundings. Earlier, UNRWA reported that clashes in the Ain el-Hilweh camp in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of 13 people and 60 injuries, raising the total victim count to 14.
The Palestinian Joint Action Committee in Lebanon held a meeting at the headquarters of the Palestinian Federations and Popular Organizations in Sidon. In a statement, they affirmed the decisions made during their last meeting at the Palestinian Embassy in Lebanon, which was attended by Palestinian Ambassador Ashraf Dabbour. The primary decisions included solidifying the ceasefire, providing a secure environment for displaced residents to return to their homes in the camp, and initiating the work of the investigation committee led by Major General Mounir Kachouch, aimed at investigating the criminal assassination of Palestinian National Security Forces leader Abu Ashraf al-Aramoushi and his companions, as well as the murder of Abdel Rahman Farhoud.
The committee also made adjustments to the field committee overseeing the ceasefire implementation, to include representatives from the neighborhood committees, who will be appointed by the Joint Action Committee in Sidon during their meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, to address any violations that occur.
It was agreed that the Palestinian Joint Action Committee would continue to monitor the implementation of all previous agreements to achieve a final resolution.
The meeting included calls to the attendees, one from Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and another from Fatah Central Committee member and supervisor of the Lebanese arena, Azzam al-Ahmad. They praised the efforts of the Palestinian Joint Action Committee in striving for a ceasefire and called for unified action to achieve that goal, restore normalcy to the camp, and hold accountable those who disrupt security.
Clashes renewed last night at 10 PM in Ain el-Hilweh across all fronts, marking the fiercest confrontations since the ceasefire began last Saturday. Various forms of heavy weaponry and rocket fire were used, following hours of tense calm after a ceasefire agreement facilitated by the Palestinian Joint Action Committee. Reports indicated sudden attacks on Fatah positions, forcing them to respond fiercely, resulting in one death and multiple injuries among their ranks. There were also reports of gunfire directed at a Lebanese army checkpoint, though no official statement has been released by the army regarding these developments.
Social media footage highlighted the intensity of the clashes. Gunfire and shelling reached areas around the Sidon government hospital, the Arabic Roundabout, Sebbeh Plain, the American Roundabout, and the eastern highway in Sidon.
In terms of mediation efforts, the Hamas media office announced today that Ismail Haniyeh sent a message to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah outlining the situation in the Ain el-Hilweh camp. Haniyeh urged Nasrallah to exert efforts to halt the ongoing clashes and restore normalcy.
Haniyeh emphasized Hamas's commitment to security and stability in the camp and neighboring areas, stating that the camps symbolize the return to Palestine and that Palestinian arms are directed solely against Israel. He highlighted the need to respect the decisions made by Palestinian authorities, particularly the Joint Action Committee, in full coordination with the relevant Lebanese official entities, to avoid resorting to arms, permanently cease fire, withdraw armed individuals from the streets, and allow the investigation committee to perform its duties in coordination with relevant state authorities.
Furthermore, Haniyeh requested positive intervention from Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to halt the ongoing clashes in the camp and restore normal conditions.
The Palestinian Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's representative Hamza Bishatwy stated in an interview that efforts from Palestinian and Lebanese parties aim to enforce the ceasefire agreement established yesterday. He noted that these parties are not only proclaiming a ceasefire but also physically intervening to separate fighters and compel adherence to the ceasefire under accountability.
Bishatwy described the escalating clashes as stemming from cumulative causes, attributing the conflict to incidents involving a member of the Shbaytat family and the assassination of Fatah security leader Abu Ismat al-Aramoushi, leading to a series of retaliatory actions. He warned that violating the ceasefire could provoke increased public anger against refugees both inside and outside the camp, as was witnessed last night, renewing the ferocity of the clashes.
The Save the Children organization announced today that the clashes have displaced 20,000 individuals, including about 12,000 children. Security sources in the camp told Reuters that at least 13 people, mostly militants, have been killed since the fighting erupted between Fatah and radical Islamists on Saturday. According to UNRWA, Ain el-Hilweh is the largest of the 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, housing approximately 80,000 of the estimated 250,000 Palestinian refugees across the country.
George Greg, director of the region at Save the Children, pointed out the mass flight of children and families, who are experiencing hardships and confusion due to the ongoing clashes. He added that some children have become separated from their parents and caregivers, while other families fear leaving their homes despite limited access to food and water.
In the wake of renewed clashes, Southern Governor Mansour Daou extended the suspension of work in official administrations at the Sidon Serail until today, Thursday. The management of the South Lebanon Water Corporation also announced the closure of its main center in Sidon due to the unstable conditions in the city, urging its distribution and production departments to take necessary measures for essential emergency repairs to ensure the proper functioning of public facilities and continuity of water supply.
