Apparent calm follows armed clashes in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp
Ain al-Hilweh saw two days of violence between Fatah and Bilal Badr’s fundamentalist Islamic group. What triggered clashes remains unknown. Camp residents are against the presence of the extremist movements. For some, terrorism hides a power struggle between Fatah, Dahlan and Hamas.
Sidon (AsiaNews) – A relative calm has returned to the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp after two days of armed clashes. Fear of sniper fire limited traffic around Hattin, in the south of the camp. Today schools remained closed in and around the camp because of recent shelling. Local sources report a cease-fire deal that includes the departure without fear of arrest of members of the takfiri (fundamentalist) militia led by Bilal Badr.
Following the violent week-end, the Lebanese army boosted security measures around Ain al-Hilweh, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in the diaspora, which is located near Saida (Sidon), capital of Lebanon’s South Governorate.
Fighting between Fatah and Bilal Badr’s forces broke out overnight on Saturday in the al-Fokani market, in Badr’s stronghold of al-Tayra. It intensified yesterday with mortar fire and machine guns.
In the early hours of today, Fatah forces occupied much of the area under Bilal Badr’s control, including his headquarters, but were unable to find him and his 50 diehard loyalists. Since the fighting broke out, a Fatah fighter died whilst ten others were wounded. Thick plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky from several damaged houses.
Well-informed sources in Saida report that Bilal Badr had repeatedly asked for a ceasefire, which was rejected by Fatah. The latter is bent on eliminating the extremist group, and ending the climate of lawlessness and violence that gripped Ain al-Hilweh for months.
The latest incident began when a ‘Joint Forces’ patrol close to Al Fatah came under fire from Bilal Badr’s forces Saturday afternoon during a security check. However, clashes had already begun on 1 March. No one knows why. Some initially though it was a settlement of scores between Mahmud Abbas and Muhamad Dahlan or between Mahmud Abbas and Fatah over who represents the Palestinian people in the Diaspora.
For their part, Lebanese media blamed an agreement between Lebanese and Palestinian security forces to force extremist groups, like Osbat Al-Ansar, to leave the camp and hand over those involved in recent terrorist attacks.
What is certain is that Lebanese media are saying that most camp residents are opposed to the presence of extremist groups in the camp. The more so since the Lebanese army warned camp leaders that they were running out of patience towards groups causing unrest within in.
Sources told AsiaNews that Fatah promised Lebanon’s intelligence services that it would hand over wanted Islamists hiding in the camp. The confidential information was confirmed by statements made by a former Fatah leader, Mohamed Issa, aka ‘Lino’.
Camp "Security authorities have not taken any action, nor done their duty in the face of numerous attacks and murders," he said. The killers "were well known to everyone but no one has done anything and they continue to walk free."
For some in the camp, the issue of fighting terrorism is just an excuse to cover up a power struggle between Fatah, Dahlan and Hamas over who represents the Palestinian people. It coincides with the visit of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to Lebanon.
According to some reports, Abbas wants Lebanon to police and handle security arrangements in Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps.
As of yesterday, the death toll stood at six following the death at the al-Rahi Hospital of Mohamed Ezzat Mussa, one of the more seriously wounded victims.
Meanwhile, Bilal Badr is still on the run, and more armed clashes have been reported around his old house in Ain al-Hilweh.
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25/11/2022 11:46
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