Following the visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Beirut, which emphasized the exclusivity of weapon possession by the state and the avoidance of Lebanese territory as a base for military actions against Israel, the issue of Palestinian arms has been brought to the forefront.
Official sources have confirmed to local media that the topic of Palestinian weapons on Lebanese soil has been handed over to a Lebanese-Palestinian committee, which has commenced discussions on addressing the matter. This involves the Palestinian Authority and various factions, preparing to handle those who refuse to comply with disarmament measures, in accordance with the requirements of the current phase. The available information regarding this Lebanese-Palestinian initiative suggests a significant alignment with the primary international and Arab efforts, which are pushing for prompt Lebanese actions aimed at monopolizing weaponry and eliminating all illegal arms outside the Lebanese state’s framework, including Palestinian weapons and those of Hezbollah.
In this context, reports indicate there is an agreement to initiate the process of handing over Palestinian arms following a specific timeline and through the establishment of an execution mechanism for a phased withdrawal of these weapons.
The initial stage is set to begin in mid-June in the Beirut camps (Bourj al-Barajneh, Shatila, and Mar Elias). The second phase is expected to start at the beginning of July, focusing on the camps in the Bekaa Valley and northern regions (Jalil and Beddawi), while the third phase will address other southern camps based on an agreement with the Palestinian Authority and factions.
The firm positions expressed by the U.S. envoy, who emphasized that disarming Hezbollah must encompass all Lebanese territories and not be limited to the South Litani area, have also attracted attention. While some estimates considered Morgan Ortagus’s visit as a direct message of support for the new government in Lebanon, sources indicated to local media that the disarmament of Hezbollah is likely the key topic of her visit.