With every security or political development, the discussion about the Palestinian weapons file in the Lebanese camps returns, amidst repeated accusations against Hamas of not cooperating in any effort aimed at organizing this file or finding a solution for it.
Amidst the circulating news about the handover of weapons inside some camps, especially in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, different positions appear among the Palestinian factions, which calls for Hamas to clarify its position and directly answer the accusations directed at it.
In this context, sources in Hamas stated to that the weapons handover operations inside the camps are an internal matter pertaining to the Fatah movement, which is trying to resolve it within its organizational structure, and Hamas has absolutely no connection to it.
The sources affirmed that these are completely internal procedures, and that the handover and receipt operations began several months ago, and that what happened in the Ain al-Hilweh camp has no connection to Hamas, neither near nor far. The sources considered that everything that is said about the subject of weapons or involving Hamas’s name in this context is inaccurate, confirming that the movement does not establish bases, raise weapons, or carry out any military or security activities in the camps or anywhere else.
They clarified that this file is being discussed with the Lebanese state, and that the responsibility falls on everyone within the framework of treatment and correction, and not on Hamas alone. The sources emphasized that the movement has never sought to create chaos or undermine stability, but on the contrary, it has never tried to fuel the situation or incite sedition within the Lebanese arena.
They pointed out that the Lebanese-Palestinian relationship has always been sensitive, but Hamas has always played a role in easing tension and calming the atmosphere. They added that the movement has had previous roles in preventing the escalation of disputes, pointing specifically to 2017, where Hamas played a fundamental role in preventing sedition in the Palestinian-Lebanese relationship during a very sensitive period.
The sources denied the existence of any formal dialogue or direct path with Hamas on this security matter, explaining that the current framework, of which the movement is a part, is the framework of joint Palestinian action in Lebanon.
They clarified that the goal of this framework is to discuss all Palestinian issues, not only the security aspect or the subject of weapons, as there are social, humanitarian, and political issues related to Palestinians in Lebanon, and they must be present in any comprehensive approach.
The sources affirmed that Hamas is not against the security of Lebanon, but rather it is with its security and stability, and with the Lebanese state and its policies, but it believes that all Palestinian issues should not be addressed from a single security perspective only, as in addition to the security dimension, there are human, social, and political dimensions that must be taken into account and discussed.
The sources concluded by emphasizing that this file is being discussed in coordination with the Lebanese state and through the official channels, noting that Hamas constantly raises a fundamental question that the issue of weapons has never been raised in this way, and it cannot be dealt with in isolation from other core issues related to the Palestinian presence in Lebanon.
