An unobvious conclusion: Palestine is ready to disarm its camps in Lebanon
The Palestinian Authority is ready to begin withdrawing weapons from refugee camps in Lebanon. This was reported to Izvestia by Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The decision was a continuation of the agreements reached during the May visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Beirut. However, there are doubts about the success of this case — among other things, Hamas supporters who do not recognize the PLO's authority are located in the camps. Meanwhile, a new escalation has begun in the south of the country: the day before, Israeli aircraft launched at least 17 strikes on the outskirts of Beirut, which Lebanon regarded as a serious violation of the ceasefire. The Israeli side has stated that it will continue attacks until Hezbollah is completely disarmed.
Who is stationed in Palestinian camps in Lebanon
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is ready to begin withdrawing weapons from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. This was reported to Izvestia by Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). According to him, the new regional dynamics and the changed balance within Lebanon open a window of opportunity for demilitarization.
People walk down the street in a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon
— The PLO and the PA are ready to withdraw weapons both inside and outside the camps. Previously, this was an expression of support for Lebanese statehood and sovereignty throughout the country," he said. — The situation has changed today. Lebanon has entered a new era. We believe that supporting the transformations currently taking place in Lebanon and the region requires us to put forward this disarmament initiative.
Majdalani noted that at the same time as this step, the Palestinian side intends to conduct a dialogue on the civil rights of Palestinians in Lebanon, including the right to work, housing and decent living conditions. According to him, the Palestinians want to be part of the process of rebuilding Lebanon, not a source of instability.
According to the Lebanese representative office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), about 222,000 Palestinians actually live in Lebanon, of which 195,000 are refugees from previous years, and 27,000 are Palestinians who arrived from Syria. There are 12 official Palestinian refugee camps in the country.
On May 21, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with the Lebanese leadership in Beirut. The negotiations resulted in a joint statement on the need to concentrate weapons exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese State. The document emphasizes that "the era of illegal weapons is over," especially considering the human losses suffered by both sides over the past decades.
From left to right: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, May 21, 2025
Nevertheless, in practice, the implementation of these agreements is fraught with serious difficulties. We are talking not only about forces loyal to Fatah (the Palestinian militant movement and political party), but also about other Palestinian groups, including those affiliated with Hamas, many of which do not recognize Abbas' authority.
Earlier, Beirut had already sent a warning to the representative of Hamas in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdel Hadi, demanding a complete halt to armed activities in the country. The reason for the ultimatum was the launching of rockets at Israel from southern Lebanon on March 22. In response, the Israeli army launched intense strikes. These actions have put the issue of camp control back on the agenda and increased fears that the actions of the Axis of Resistance could provoke a new conflict with the Jewish State.
Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, it has not been possible to avoid a new escalation. On the night of June 6, the Israeli Air Force launched a series of massive strikes on the area of southern Beirut, a stronghold of the Hezbollah movement. Israel said the strikes targeted underground facilities allegedly linked to the production of drones for the Shiite movement. The Israeli side said it would continue attacks until Hezbollah was completely disarmed, and called the strike a warning.
In response, the Lebanese authorities accused Israel of "grossly violating" the cease-fire signed last November. Under the terms of the agreement, Hezbollah fighters were to withdraw north from the Litani River, while the Israeli army was to withdraw troops from Lebanese territory. However, Israel still retains control of five districts in Lebanon.
According to Jamal Wakim, a professor at the Lebanese University, Israel's attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut should be viewed in the broader context of pressure on Hezbollah and the Lebanese state itself.
—These attacks are part of an ongoing campaign by Israel, which aims not only to disarm Hezbollah, but also to achieve its complete dismantling," the expert said. According to him, Israel's actions are accompanied by parallel political pressure from the United States, which is aimed at eliminating the armed wing of the Shiite movement as a factor of regional balance.
At the same time, as Wakim notes, Hezbollah still adheres to a waiting strategy, carefully analyzes the internal situation in Lebanon and the overall situation in the region, especially taking into account the consequences of the change of power in Syria and broader geopolitical upheavals. But if the Israeli strikes continue, it could push the movement to respond.
"I don't think we'll have to wait long for the moment when the resistance decides to respond,— he said.
Notably, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced yesterday that the country's army had dismantled more than 500 Hezbollah military infrastructure facilities in the south, including warehouses and firing positions. In this regard, a potential massive response will require external support, which will provoke a new round of regional conflict.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah itself regards the latest strikes as part of a broad pressure campaign launched with the support of the West. In a comment to Al Jazeera, a representative of the movement said that "the escalation by Israel is taking place under the cover of the United States," and "the Israeli government continues its war against Lebanon."
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