What's happened
Lebanese authorities have begun collecting weapons from Palestinian refugee camps, starting with Burj al-Barajneh, as part of a broader effort to disarm all militant groups in Lebanon. The process follows a May agreement between Lebanese and Palestinian leaders, amid regional tensions and internal factional divisions. The move is cautious and symbolic so far, with further phases planned.
What's behind the headline?
The disarmament of Palestinian camps in Lebanon is a significant step toward Lebanese sovereignty and regional stability. The process, initiated under international and US pressure, aims to disarm all non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah, which remains resistant. The limited weapons handover so far indicates a cautious approach, with factions like Hamas and Islamic Jihad resisting disarmament, citing security and ideological reasons. The move could weaken militant influence in Lebanon but risks internal conflict if factions oppose the process. The Lebanese government’s reliance on phased disarmament and internal negotiations suggests a long-term strategy, but the entrenched factional divisions and regional tensions mean full disarmament remains uncertain. The US and regional actors are likely to continue diplomatic efforts, balancing disarmament with regional security concerns, especially regarding Israel and Iran. The success of this initiative will depend on the Lebanese state's ability to enforce sovereignty and manage internal factional resistance, which remains a complex challenge.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel provides detailed reporting on the ongoing weapons handover, emphasizing the cautious and symbolic nature of the process, and highlighting regional security concerns. The New Arab offers insight into the internal Palestinian faction dynamics and the political implications of disarmament, including resistance from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Both sources underscore the regional pressure to disarm militias like Hezbollah, with US involvement and diplomatic efforts playing a central role. The coverage from these outlets illustrates a complex picture: a fragile, phased disarmament process driven by political agreements, regional security interests, and factional resistance, with the ultimate goal of stabilizing Lebanon and reducing militant influence.
How we got here
The disarmament initiative stems from a May 2025 agreement between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, aiming to reduce weapons in Palestinian refugee camps and strengthen Lebanese sovereignty. The effort is part of Lebanon's wider plan to disarm Hezbollah and restore state control over armed groups, amid regional tensions and Israeli military activity. Palestinian factions in Lebanon have historically maintained control over their camps, which operate outside Lebanese jurisdiction, with internal divisions complicating disarmament efforts. The process has faced skepticism, especially from groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which oppose surrendering their weapons, citing security concerns and their right to resistance.
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Common question
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What’s Happening with Palestinian Camps in Lebanon?
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Why is Lebanon disarming Palestinian refugee camps now?
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More on these topics
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Joseph Khalil Aoun is a Lebanese Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017.
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Mahmoud Abbas, also known by the kunya Abu Mazen, is the President of the State of Palestine and Palestinian National Authority.
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Fatah, formerly the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, is a Palestinian nationalist social democratic political party and the largest faction of the confederated multi-party Palestine Liberation Organization and the second-largest party in the Pale
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The Lebanese Armed Forces or Forces Armées Libanaises in French, also known as the Lebanese Army, is the military of the Lebanese Republic. It consists of three branches, the army, the air force, and the navy. The motto of the Lebanese Armed Forces is "H
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Nawaf Abdallah Salim Salam is a Lebanese politician, diplomat, jurist and academic who is the prime minister-designate of Lebanon.
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The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, known in the West as simply Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is a Damascus-based Palestinian Islamist organization formed in 1981.