Despite the national and Islamic Palestinian agreement for an immediate ceasefire in Ain al-Hilweh, sounds of shells and machine guns can still be heard intermittently in the camp and the city of Sidon, albeit at a lower intensity, particularly between the emergency and barracks areas, as well as between Hittin and Jabal al-Halib. Notably, a new front opened today for the first time from Ras al-Ahmar to al-Safsaf. This bout of fighting has resulted in four fatalities so far, two of whom were from the "Fatah" movement and were transferred to al-Hamshari Hospital, one civilian in Ghazieh, and one from "Jund al-Sham." Around 25 people have been injured, with 11 taken to al-Hamshari, 9 to al-Ra'i Hospital, and 3 to Hamoud Hospital, with two injured inside the camp, raising the total number of wounded since the fighting began to 60.
In a related context, security and military forces in Sidon began removing tents that were set up near the Sidon Municipal Stadium after facing rejection from local representatives and community figures, who have called for schools in the city to accommodate the displaced.
MP Abdul Rahman al-Bizri commented on the decision to establish a camp at the northern entrance of Sidon, stating, "This brings back many memories of the tragedies experienced by the Palestinian people, and this decision will have its repercussions and negative implications for the Palestinians and for Sidon and its residents, who bear the burden of repeating these unfortunate events." He expressed his astonishment in a statement at the decision to set up a temporary shelter, suggesting that those responsible for the relief efforts in Sidon should have found alternative options, especially since Sidon had previously managed to host much larger numbers than current circumstances dictate.
Al-Bizri called on everyone involved in making this decision, whether locally in the city or at the level of UNRWA and other community institutions, to reverse it and find an alternative option immediately.
The Progressive Socialist Party emphasized "the necessity of ending the causes that led to the repeated clashes in Ain al-Hilweh camp." It highlighted the importance of the tireless efforts made by the Palestinian Joint Action Committee and all Palestinian and Lebanese forces to stop the fire and achieve calm in the Ain al-Hilweh camp and called for a fundamental solution to the circumstances that jeopardize the security of the camp, the refugees, and its surroundings.
The party urged "all concerned parties to take responsibility in addressing this issue seriously, as it poses a risk to overall stability, and to pressure for the handover of those wanted responsible for the recent events to the official Lebanese authorities and restore calm to the camp."
