Beirut: Palestinian factions in Lebanon handed over the third batch of weapons belonging to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut to the Lebanese army. This transfer aligns with a joint presidential statement issued on May 21 by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that army vehicles entered the Burj al-Barajneh camp to collect the latest batch of Palestinian weapons. Simultaneously, Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, in a statement carried by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, announced that both sides have agreed to form a joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee. This committee will monitor conditions in the refugee camps and work towards improving living and humanitarian conditions for Palestinian refugees, while ensuring respect for Lebanese sovereignty.
Abu Rudeineh emphasized the commitment of both parties to ensuring the social, economic, and human rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. He stressed the importance of guaranteeing them a dignified life without undermining their right of return or affecting their national identity. Furthermore, he highlighted the principle that all weapons on Lebanese territory must be under the exclusive control of the Lebanese state.
The recent handover of weapons by Palestinian factions in Lebanon occurs amid a broader debate over state control of arms within the country. In August, the Lebanese Cabinet tasked the army with drafting a comprehensive disarmament plan, a move interpreted as targeting Hezbollah for the first time in years. The Cabinet also endorsed the objectives of a US-backed proposal submitted by special envoy Tom Barrack, which advocates for exclusive state control over all weapons in Lebanon.