Lebanon has initiated a campaign to disarm Palestinian groups in its refugee camps, beginning with the handover of weapons from Burj al-Barajneh in Beirut. The prime minister's office described the transfer to the Lebanese army as the start of a wider campaign, with further handovers expected across other camps in coming weeks. Officials said the move follows a US-backed truce limiting weapons to six state security forces and a November 27, 2024 ceasefire. The government has tasked the army to produce a year-end strategy to consolidate arms under state authority. Longstanding camp autonomy and security dynamics underpin the effort.
Lebanon has launched a plan to disarm Palestinian groups in its refugee camps, beginning with the handover of weapons from Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut. The prime minister's office announced on Thursday that the weapons transfer to the Lebanese army marks the start of a wider disarmament campaign. More handovers are expected in the coming weeks across Burj al-Barajneh and other camps nationwide.
The initiative follows Lebanon's commitment under a US-backed truce between Israel and Hezbollah in November, which restricted weapons to six state security forces. Since the November 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement, Israel has continued attacking Lebanon, often on a weekly basis. The government has tasked the army with producing a strategy by the end of the year to consolidate all arms under state authority.
According to the prime minister's office, the decision to disarm Palestinian factions was reached in a May meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Both leaders affirmed Lebanon's sovereignty and insisted that only the state should hold arms. Lebanese and Palestinian officials later agreed on a timeline and mechanism for the handovers. For decades, Palestinian groups have maintained control inside Lebanon's 12 refugee camps, which largely operate outside state jurisdiction.
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