Clashes between members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group and extremist factions in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh, Lebanon, continued for a third consecutive day on Monday. Despite efforts by Lebanese parties and some Palestinian factions to mediate a cease-fire, the violence persisted without respite, as reported by Adnan Rifai, a member of the popular committee governing the camp.
The death toll from the clashes reached six, according to a Lebanese army spokesperson, Colonel Fadi Abou Eid, who also mentioned that two soldiers stationed outside the camp sustained minor injuries. However, some reports indicated higher casualty figures. The Lebanese army, though present at a checkpoint outside the camp, generally refrains from entering, as the camp is under the control of Palestinian factions.
The conflict began on Sunday when extremist militants shot and killed a Palestinian military general from the Fatah group, Abu Ashraf al Armoushi, along with three escorts in a parking lot. On the previous day, an unknown gunman had attempted to assassinate militant Mahmoud Khalil, but instead killed his companion.
Following the deadly incidents, Palestinian factions released a joint statement announcing a cease-fire agreement during a mediation meeting facilitated by the Lebanese Shia Amal movement and the militant Hezbollah group in Sidon city. Unfortunately, the cease-fire did not hold, and stray bullets from the camp affected nearby neighborhoods in Sidon, leading some residents to evacuate their homes and the Sidon General Hospital to evacuate its staff and patients due to the danger.
Fatah condemned the killing of its security official and regarded it as part of a sinister plan aimed at destabilizing the camps’ security and stability. They pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable for the violence.
Both Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued statements on Sunday condemning the ongoing violence in the camp.
Lebanese lawmaker Osama Saad, representing the Sidon area where the camp is located, affirmed that officials were exerting extraordinary efforts to find meaningful and lasting solutions to the situation inside the camp. On Monday, Lebanese officials and security forces planned to meet with Palestinian factions in an attempt to push for a cease-fire and de-escalation of hostilities.