Lebanon and Palestine to Begin Disarmament of Beirut Refugee Camps in June

BEIRUT — Lebanese and Palestinian officials have agreed to launch a phased plan to disarm Palestinian refugee camps, beginning in mid-June with camps in Beirut, followed by other camps across the country. The agreement came during the first meeting of a newly formed joint committee tasked with addressing conditions in the camps. 

In a statement issued after the meeting, the committee announced that both sides had committed to a structured timeline for disarmament, accompanied by practical measures aimed at improving the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees. 

The move follows a joint declaration by Syriac Maronite Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, reaffirming their commitment to limiting weapons possession to the Lebanese state and ending any unauthorized armed presence within Lebanon. 

Under a decades-old informal arrangement, Palestinian factions have been responsible for maintaining order inside the camps—zones where the Lebanese military typically does not intervene. Groups including Fatah, Hamas, and various other factions continue to operate and bear arms within these enclaves. 

The presence of armed Palestinian factions has long been a flashpoint in Lebanon. Their role in sparking the country’s 15-year civil war remains a deeply sensitive topic. Ain al-Hilweh, located near the southern city of Sidon, is Lebanon’s largest and most volatile Palestinian camp and is known to shelter individuals wanted by Lebanese authorities. 

An estimated 250,000 Palestinians live in Lebanon, mostly in overcrowded, underserved camps. They face widespread legal and economic restrictions, including bans from working in numerous professions, fueling frustration and instability within the refugee population.