Camps disarmament: Lebanon eyes expanded Palestinian weapons transfers after initial delivery

Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi    

The recent delivery of weapons to the Lebanese Army from the Palestinian camp of Borj El Brajneh may not be a one-off. 

Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee Chairman Ramez Dimashkieh and Palestinian National Security Forces spokesman Major General Anwar Rajab confirmed Friday to LBCI that more transfers could follow in the coming days.
 
According to Palestinian and Lebanese sources, preliminary schedules have been set for additional handovers. Weapons and ammunition are expected to be delivered on Thursday from El-Buss camp in Tyre, south of the Litani River, with further transfers under discussion from Mar Elias camp in Beirut and Borj El Brajneh later this week. 

The renewed push comes amid internal Palestinian restructuring and a recent visit to Beirut by Yasser Abbas, son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who conveyed to Lebanese officials a commitment to advancing the disarmament process in the camps.
  
Sources said next week could see further deliveries from the Beddaoui camp in northern Lebanon and Borj El Chmali in Tyre. These camps, while not major military strongholds, are viewed as early tests of the seriousness of the effort.

The central challenge remains the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon, the largest Palestinian camp in Lebanon, where hardline groups and multiple factions maintain vast stockpiles of weapons. The camp has been the site of repeated rounds of heavy clashes, leaving widespread destruction.

Another focal point is the Rashidieh camp, south of the Litani, where Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) share control. Its role is seen as critical in determining the credibility of the weapons handover initiative.