At least one man was killed in clashes between Islamist militants and the Palestinian Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon where a power struggle has fueled days of violence.The Ain el-Hilweh camp, on the outskirts of the southern coastal city of Sidon, has often seen factional disputes spiral into violence. Medical sources said the man killed was a civilian, while three other people, including a child, were wounded. Fatah militants have regularly clashed with Islamist militants in the camp, including supporters of the Islamic State, Hamas and al Qaeda.
The latest wave of violence began on the 23rd of February, with the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, which aids descendants of Palestinian refugees, said it had suspended all services in the camp because of the violence, and the fact that armed Palestinian militants have barricaded themselves within schools of the UN body. “All of our institutions must be protected under any circumstances, war or not, because we are always neutral. In order to continue our job, we must be neutral and we ask all armed groups that are now inside our schools, to immediately exit, in order for these institutions to be protected, and to save its international role inside the camp,” said Hakam Shahwan, UNRWA Director in Lebanon.
On a visit to the Lebanese capital Beirut last week, Palestinian President Abbas discussed with Lebanese officials the security arrangements in Palestinian camps in the country, which are home to nearly 450,000 Palestinians. According to Lebanese security sources, Abbas has an agreement with Lebanese authorities to hand over wanted Islamist militants hiding out in Palestinian refugee camps, which is outside the jurisdiction of Lebanese security forces – a reality that has brought about tension between Palestinian militants loyal to President Abbas and Islamist militants.