Fatah surrenders more weapons to Lebanese army in Burj al-Barajneh camp

The Palestinian Fatah movement handed the Lebanese army more weapons in a south of Beirut camp on Friday as part of Beirut’s plan to disarm all armed groups in the country.

Truckloads of arms exited the Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut's southern suburbs, a day after Fatah surrendered its weapons in three Palestinian camps in southern Lebanon.

"The handover process included various types of weapons, shells, and ammunition," the Lebanese army said in a statement.

Fatah spokesman Badih al-Habet told local media that the movement’s commitment to handing over its weapons to the Lebanese state was based on the principle of recognising the civil and social rights of the Palestinian people in Lebanon.

Fatah began handing its arms to Lebanese authorities in the Burj al-Barajneh camp a week ago in line with a May agreement between Beirut and the Palestinian Authority to disarm all Palestinian factions in Lebanon.

The disarmament process was supposed to begin in mid-June, but was delayed due to divisions among Palestinian factions, as Fatah rival Hamas has publicly said it was not concerned with the agreement and has refused to disarm.

Hamas has been under scrutiny in Lebanon and was warned earlier this year about undermining the country’s security and sovereignty.

Some factions in the volatile Ain al-Hilweh camp – the largest of Lebanon’s 12 Palestinian camps located in the south – are expected to represent a much more difficult task for Lebanon’s military and security forces.

The Lebanese government has vowed to impose a monopoly on all arms in the country, including those of Hezbollah, which came out badly weakened from last year’s war with Israel.