"Lebanese-Palestinian Agreement: Removing Weapons from Refugee Camps for Regional Stability"

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"Lebanese-Palestinian Agreement: Removing Weapons from Refugee Camps for Regional Stability"

[!CDATA[Lebanese and Palestinian leaders have reached an agreement to prevent Palestinian factions from using Lebanon as a base for attacks on Israel. President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met to discuss the issue and agreed to remove weapons not under the control of the Lebanese state. This move comes as Lebanon aims to establish authority in the country, particularly in the south near the Israeli border following the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, which are not under Lebanese state control, house various Palestinian factions with different weapons. Inter-factional clashes in the camps have caused casualties and impacted surrounding areas. The specifics of how the weapons will be removed from the camps, which are home to thousands of Palestinians, many of whom are descendants of families displaced after the creation of Israel in 1948, remain unclear. The main factions in the camps are Abbas' Fatah movement and the militant Hamas group, with smaller groups, including jihadi factions, also present, particularly in the largest camp, Ein el-Hilweh. Both sides have agreed that weapons should be solely under the control of the Lebanese state, and the presence of weapons outside state control has been addressed. The joint statement emphasized that the camps should not harbor extremist groups and that the Palestinian side commits to not using Lebanese territories for military operations. In response to alleged rocket attacks by Hamas from southern Lebanon, Israel conducted airstrikes on Lebanon, prompting the Lebanese government to take action against the Palestinian group. The government arrested suspects involved in the attacks and pressured Hamas to hand over militants from different refugee camps. Palestinians in Lebanon face restrictions on employment, limited legal rights, and property ownership limitations. In conclusion, the agreement between Lebanese and Palestinian leaders marks a step towards ensuring stability and security in Lebanon, particularly in the context of Palestinian refugee camps. The commitment to preventing the use of Lebanese territories for military activities and the removal of weapons not under state control are significant steps towards maintaining peace in the region.]]