Will Regional Tensions Stall Palestinian Arms Handover in Lebanon?

Asharq Al-Awsat

16-06-2025

The escalation of the Israeli-Iranian conflict has disrupted Lebanon's internal agenda, pausing progress on several sensitive files, including the handover of Palestinian weapons inside refugee camps. The disarmament initiative, which was scheduled to begin this week in Beirut's camps, has now been delayed amid shifting regional dynamics.
According to official Lebanese sources, Palestinian factions have not yet received any instructions - either from Ramallah or Lebanese security agencies - regarding weapons collection. While this has halted implementation, sources say the file is still active. 'The factions requested a grace period before the process begins in Beirut's camps,' the sources told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the plan will instead start in the South.
The phased disarmament will begin in the southern camps under the jurisdiction of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, starting with Al-Buss camp near Tyre, followed by Rashidieh and Al-Burj Al-Shamali. No fixed timeline has been set, and implementation will proceed gradually.
A senior Fatah official, Azzam al-Ahmad, is expected to return to Beirut soon at the head of a security delegation to continue discussions on the framework and logistics of the disarmament plan. Al-Ahmad had visited Lebanon prior to Eid al-Adha to mediate internal Fatah disagreements and met with senior Lebanese security officials during his stay.
Palestinian analyst Hesham Debsi, director of the Tatwir Center for Studies, says the disarmament file has not been shelved. 'This is not just a local issue; it's closely tied to regional developments and international negotiations, particularly the US-Iran nuclear talks,' Debsi said.
He noted that the broader Israeli-Iranian confrontation has forced stakeholders to reconsider the timing of major initiatives, including the Arab-French-international conference previously planned to support the Palestinian state and Lebanese sovereignty.
Debsi emphasized that delays do not signal a reversal in political commitment. A joint statement in May between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed both parties' agreement on limiting weapons to the Lebanese state and preventing camps from becoming safe havens for extremist groups.
While preparations are advancing, actual implementation will depend on Lebanon's political assessment of the right moment to proceed.
Reports of internal dissent within Fatah over the arms file were acknowledged by Debsi but dismissed as resolved. 'Some members objected for political or organizational reasons, including feelings of exclusion. Others viewed the decision as hasty,' he said. These concerns, he added, were addressed by the delegation from Ramallah, which also introduced structural reforms in the PLO, the Palestinian embassy, and Fatah's leadership in Lebanon.
Palestinian armed presence in Lebanon is concentrated across 12 major camps, largely outside state control. Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine dominate these areas. Historically active pro-Syrian factions outside the camps, such as the PFLP-General Command and As-Saiqa, have largely lost their influence, with the Lebanese Army dismantling their remaining bases.