Warring Palestinian groups in Lebanon's Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp agree on cease-fire

By Wassim Seif El Din

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) – A cease-fire agreement between warring Palestinian groups in the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon was reached a day after an armed conflict that left 20 people injured, a source close to the latest developments said late Friday.

A source from the Palestinian Hamas group told Anadolu, on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media, that a meeting took place on Friday in the southern city of Sidon between representatives of the Fatah and the Hamas groups.

The source added that pressure was applied on all fighting groups to end the clashes inside the camp and a cease-fire was agreed at the meeting, which has come into effect immediately, although there were some minor incidences.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Joint Action Committee, which represents all Palestinian groups in Lebanon, emphasized in a statement that both Palestinian groups must adhere to their commitment to respect the cease-fire.

Earlier in the day, cautious calm prevailed in the refugee camp following heavy clashes on Thursday night between Palestinian forces affiliated with the Fatah movement and Islamic groups in the camp, injuring at least 20 people.

Earlier on July 29, the camp saw heavy clashes between the same fighting groups, which left 11 people dead and more than 40 others injured, according to UN figures.

Established in 1948, Ein el-Hilweh is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, with 50,000 registered people, according to UN figures, though unofficial statistics put the camp’s population at 70,000.

The total number of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is estimated to be about 200,000, distributed among 12 camps, most of which are controlled by Palestinian factions.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar