A source from the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" announced that an agreement has been reached to establish a ceasefire in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon, southern Lebanon, following deadly confrontations between members of Fatah and "Islamic" factions. The source added that "pressure was applied on armed groups from all directions to cease fire in the camp, and an agreement to stop the fighting was reached during the meeting, which succeeded despite some minor violations."
A cautious calm prevails in the camp, interspersed with intermittent gunfire, after clashes resulted in more than twenty people being injured. Last night, a meeting was held at the home of the Secretary of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's factions, Fathi Abu al-Ardat, which included the Chairman of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Basil al-Hassan, a representative of "Hamas" in Lebanon, and the Secretary of the Palestinian Forces Alliance, Ahmad Abd al-Hadi.
The meeting focused on the ongoing mechanisms for handing over the wanted individuals, utilizing the approach approved in the Palestinian Joint Action Authority, and enabling the joint force to carry out its required tasks to bring in the fugitives, in a manner that ensures the continuation of security and safety in the Ain al-Hilweh camp and its surroundings.
It was agreed on the "necessity of continuing to oversee the formation of the joint force, vacating schools, and the return of Palestinian students to their schools, considering them the ultimate goal in ensuring their right to education and life, with high appreciation for the efforts exerted by all parties to stabilize the ceasefire, especially the Embassy of the State of Palestine." The participants also "emphasized the depth of understanding between all Palestinian factions and the Lebanese state concerning national responsibility and affirmed the Palestinian people's right to a decent life and to justice, equality, and alleviation of oppression."
Simultaneously, the attendees "highly valued the Lebanese neighborhood's tolerance towards the existing situation," and thanked the people of Sidon for their efforts in uniting with the city's activities and its representatives in this regard.
Deputy Abdul Rahman al-Bizri, in a statement, considered that "the recent events in Ain al-Hilweh camp and the preceding ones are evidence of a security and political problem in this camp that negatively affects the safety of the residents both in the Sidon area and within the camp." He added that what occurred yesterday is proof of the failure of various efforts made by local, national, and governmental Lebanese political forces, in addition to the numerous meetings among the Palestinian factions.
He emphasized that citizens in the city of Sidon and its region, as well as in Ain al-Hilweh, have lost their patience and confidence in the proposed solutions, and the Lebanese state is expected to fully assume its responsibilities towards its citizens and to protect the stability and security interests of Sidon and its region. Al-Bizri concluded by stating that "the biggest loser is Sidon, the main supporter of the Palestinian cause in Lebanon, and what is happening serves the interests of the 'Israeli' enemy."
