Today, the “Fatah” movement concluded a new phase of weapons handover in the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon, as part of a continuous series of steps that reflect the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to implementing the agreements concluded with the Lebanese state, and with the aim of preserving the security and stability of the camps. The question remains: Will this process lead to complete control over weapons inside the camp, or will challenges remain in light of some manifestations of lawlessness and problems?
In this context, the Director of the Public Relations and Media Department in the Palestinian National Security in Lebanon, Brigadier General Abd al-Hadi al-Asadi, explained in an interview, that “Today, the depth of the Palestinian-Lebanese relationship and cooperation was reaffirmed, within the framework of the agreement that took place between President Mahmoud Abbas and President Joseph Aoun, and the committee emanating from this meeting, which follows up on the affairs of the Palestinian camps and strengthens Palestinian-Lebanese relations.”
Al-Asadi pointed out that “the handover operation that took place today constituted an additional milestone to confirm the strength of this relationship and renew the partnership, and to complete the phased path that started previously. The operation went through several stages, and the fifth stage today was at the level of Lebanon in general, and the second stage specifically at the level of the Ain al-Hilweh camp, where four trucks of heavy weapons inside the camp were handed over.”
In response to what is being said that the weapons handed over are old, while the medium weapons are still in the possession of some individuals amidst the problems that the camps are witnessing, he said: “The camps in the end are like any Lebanese city or village, there are problems and sometimes some lawlessness and chaos, but this does not mean that the weapons handover process has not been completed. What we had has been handed over, and the Lebanese army is fully aware of that, and whoever wants to speak, let him speak, the facts are clear and the path is known, and we are acting with full responsibility, and we have fulfilled our duty towards what President Abu Mazen promised the Lebanese state, and in the event that there are any heavy weapons inside any camp, they will be handed over immediately, the decision is clear and there is no room for interpretation.”
Regarding whether the resumption of this phase of the weapons handover process is linked to pressure on the “Hamas” movement, Al-Asadi affirmed that “this phase is part of a series of previous phases, where there was the first, second, third and fourth phase, and we are not concerned with this talk, and today we have completed the fifth phase. We focus on our responsibilities and what is required of us, and we do not get involved in what others are doing.”
