Fatah Begins Weapons Transfer to Lebanese Army, Hamas and Allies Push Back
Lebanon announced Thursday that Palestinian factions in Beirut have begun handing over weapons to the Lebanese army, marking the first step in a government plan to disarm refugee camps across the country. The initial handover took place at the Bourj el-Barajneh camp south of the capital, where a single truck carrying light weapons was seen leaving under army escort.
Ramez Dimashkieh, head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, said the transfer was the beginning of a staged process that will continue at other camps in the coming weeks. The agreement was first reached in May during a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who pledged to bring all weapons under state control.
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
The handover was greeted by US envoy Tom Barrack, who praised it as “a historic step toward unity and stability.” Washington and Jerusalem have both pressured Beirut to begin disarmament, viewing the effort as a precursor to the more difficult challenge of confronting Hezbollah’s arsenal following last year’s war with Israel.
Still, the move exposed deep divisions among Palestinian groups. Hamas and several allied factions dismissed the handover as an internal Fatah matter, declaring their weapons “will always remain tied to the right of return” and would only be used against Israel. Others said only “illegal” or personal weapons would be surrendered, not arms belonging to organized groups.
Lebanon hosts an estimated 280,000–520,000 Palestinians in 12 camps, many of which have long served as strongholds for armed organizations. Whether Thursday’s modest step can develop into a broader dismantling of militias remains uncertain, particularly as Hezbollah has warned it will resist any attempt to seize its weapons.
