Disarmament and diplomacy: The struggle over Palestinian arms in Lebanese camps

Lebanon 22-01-2026 | 17:33

Disarmament and diplomacy: The struggle over Palestinian arms in Lebanese camps

Fatah hands over weapons, Hamas holds back, and international mediation seeks to stabilize camps amid growing regional scrutiny.

Disarmament and diplomacy: The struggle over Palestinian arms in Lebanese camps
Armed men inside Burj al-Barajneh Palestinian camp in Lebanon. (Houssam Shbaro)
Smaller Bigger

 

The process of handing over Palestinian weapons in the camps is not yet complete, as attention now turns to the steps the “Alliance” factions will take after presenting a proposal to the government that includes both security and developmental measures. While Fatah has already handed over batches of its weapons in the camps, Hamas has not followed suit, responding to inquiries by stating that it does not possess heavy weapons. Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad movement has confirmed that the weapons it used during the recent war belonged to Hezbollah.

 

 

Palestinian sources confirm that they are awaiting an invitation from the head of the Dialogue Committee, Ramez Dimashkieh, to present the conclusions reached by factions operating outside Fatah’s orbit, stressing that the camps should not be approached from a purely “gun-centric” perspective.

Armed elements in Burj Al-Barajneh camp (Hussam Shbaro).
Armed elements in Burj Al-Barajneh camp (Hussam Shbaro).

 

A Hamas leader stressed that the movement did not take part in any clashes and did not use weapons in the camps “against any Palestinian faction or the Lebanese,” adding that its weapons have always been—and will remain—directed toward Palestine. He said the issue of weapons in the camps “cannot be addressed from this narrow perspective,” noting that they have existed since 1969 in connection with a cause that is 77 years old. He also affirmed that the Alliance has not closed the door to dialogue and cooperation with the Lebanese state and all its institutions.

 

 

The movement rejects any attempt to link its light weapons to Hezbollah’s arsenal. It affirmed that it will not hesitate to engage in dialogue with the Lebanese authorities, “whose sovereignty we respect,” adding that its communication channels with the security agencies—particularly the army—have not been severed.

 

 

The “Alliance” factions, which are boycotted by Fatah, believe that Fatah took a unilateral step without consulting other factions, aiming to replace existing leaders with figures loyal to the Ramallah leadership and to stage media-driven displays—moves that, they say, have caused internal tensions even within the PLO itself.

 

 

While awaiting the outcome of the “Alliance” factions’ contacts with Damshika, European parties concerned with the camps are maintaining channels of communication with both sides.

 

 

The French organization Promediation is set to hold a conference at a hotel in Beirut next Monday. Representatives of the organization have already met discreetly, away from media attention, and conducted tours of the Palestinian camps.

 

 

According to informed sources, its aim is to mediate between the Lebanese and Palestinian sides and to build stronger bridges toward common ground—grounded in respect for Lebanese sovereignty without bypassing it, and in efforts to improve the social conditions of the refugees.

 

 

The “Promediation” roundtable will include representatives from several factions tasked with monitoring conditions and developments inside the camps. At the same time, Palestinian attention is focused on the outcome of the Gaza “peace project” being advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

 

Multiple states have expressed support for the “Gaza Project,” with backing from Qatar and other countries. At the same time, the pressure on Hamas is intensifying both domestically and among the diaspora, particularly after Israel targeted its senior leaders in Qatar.

 

Diplomatic sources confirm that Hamas’ office in Doha has closed, though not all of its staff have departed; the majority have relocated to Turkey.


العلامات الدالة

الأكثر قراءة

فن ومشاهير 6/26/2026 8:57:00 AM
بحسب مصدر مقرب من العائلة، فإن جورج "كان يرغب دائماً في السير على خطى والده".
فن ومشاهير 6/27/2026 9:21:00 AM
محطات من حياتها الشخصية السابقة، وعلى رأسها خطبتها الشهيرة من المطرب محمد عطية عام 2020.
فن ومشاهير 6/28/2026 1:12:00 PM
إقامة ملكية تجمع هاري وميغان ببريطانيا بعد سنوات من الخلاف.
رياضة 6/27/2026 8:05:00 AM
منتخب الرأس الأخضر يصنع المفاجأة في كأس العالم 2026 ويتأهل إلى دور الـ32 بعد إنهائه الدور الأول بثلاثة تعادلات مع إسبانيا وأوروغواي والسعودية... من هو هذا المنتخب؟