Cease-fire in Ain Al-Hilweh falls through despite Fatah-Hamas agreement

Palestinian leaders have failed in a bid to establish a cease-fire in Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon.

Clashes intensified in the Hattin and Ras Al-Ahmar neighborhoods within the camp on Wednesday. Militants from the Fatah movement and various extremist groups utilized a number of types of rocket-propelled grenade, as well as light and medium weapons.

Since last Wednesday, there have been five attempts to establish a cease-fire, each lasting only a few hours before militants resumed the violence, resulting in significant destruction in the area.

The death toll has reached 10, which includes one Lebanese killed by stray bullets while in front of his shop in the southern town of Ghazieh. The number of wounded has risen to 110, encompassing both Lebanese and Palestinians, including members of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Representatives from Fatah, Hamas (representing the extremist groups) and the Lebanese security services, under the leadership of Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun, met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Wednesday. During the meeting, they discussed the agreement reached at the Palestinian Embassy on Tuesday regarding a cease-fire and the handing over of wanted persons suspected of assassinating Fatah leader Mohammed Al-Armoushi.

Attendees at the meeting included Azzam Al-Ahmad, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement, as well as Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau.

The agreement stipulated “ending media campaigns between the two parties; emphasizing the commitment of the Palestinian Joint Action Committee to establish a cease-fire, along with the understanding reached during the meeting with the leaders of the Lebanese security services at the General Directorate of Lebanese General Security; implementing the decision of the Palestinian Joint Action Committee to hand over wanted individuals accused of assassinating Al-Armoushi and his companions to the Lebanese judiciary; assigning the Joint Security Force to carry out its designated duties; and facilitating the swift return of displaced individuals to their homes and vacating schools as quickly as possible.”