Abbas and Aoun pledge end to unregulated weapons in Lebanon, no timetable set for disarmament of camps

BEIRUT — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared Wednesday that all weapons in Lebanon must fall under state control, signaling a rare and unified stance on curbing armed activity in Palestinian refugee camps, long beyond the reach of the Lebanese government. 

“There will no longer be any weapons outside the control of the state,” President Aoun said during a joint appearance at the presidential Baabda Palace, calling the move “a necessary step to safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty and internal stability.” 

Abbas, for his part, stressed that his Palestinian Authority is committed to preventing any violations of Lebanon’s national security. “We will not allow Lebanese land to be used for any military operations,” he said. “We fully respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and its policy of non-interference.” 

The two leaders pledged closer coordination between Lebanese and Palestinian officials to ensure calm in and around the camps, which have occasionally been flashpoints for violence. They also voiced concern over the threat of extremist groups operating in marginalized communities. 

“We will not allow our camps to become safe havens for terrorism or extremism,” Abbas added, emphasizing the need for “stability, security, and cooperation.” 

Beyond security concerns, President Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s longstanding support for the Palestinian right to statehood. “There is no peace without the State of Palestine,” he declared during a recent address at the emergency Arab summit in Cairo. “There is no peace without restoring the legitimate and full rights of the Palestinians.” 

The joint statement is being seen as an effort to address growing anxieties about weapons proliferation and security vacuums, as Lebanon grapples with economic crisis and regional instability.