The Palestinian Joint Security Force began deploying Monday afternoon in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh in South Lebanon, following weeks of fierce clashes between Fatah Movement, close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Islamist factions with ties to Iran.
The deployment of the joint force, planned under the latest of many agreements reached in the presence of Hamas and Fateh emissaries, should help consolidate the ceasefire and prevent a resumption of fighting, while both opposing parties maintain an active presence in the camp.
The first phase of the deployment is planned for the Safsaf-Ras el-Ahmar, Tayri and Barrak axes, where the most violent clashes took place. Palestinian law enforcement officers have positioned themselves at two points: Hay el-Tiré and Barrak.
Commander of the Joint Force Mahmoud al-Ajouri noted that the deploying forces are representative of all factions involved in the conflict, including Hamas and the Islamist group “Esbat el-Ansar”.
“The aim of this first step is to completely disarm the areas so that people can return safely to the camp,” Ajouri said, “The second step would subsequently involve evacuating all schools from armed factions and handing them over to UNRWA administration.”
“All of these measure are intended to restore normalcy within the camp,” he added.
For the first phase, 70 agents and officers were mobilized. This figure is set to rise to 170 as the process progresses.
The deployment of force in the camp is an attempt to diffuse tensions that have persisted for almost two months. The conflict was triggered by the assassination of Abou Achraf al-Armouchi, a Fatah official in charge of the security in Ain el-Helweh, and four of his companions in July.
However, there is still one unresolved issue pertaining to al-Armoushi’s assassination. The perpetrators were supposed to be handed over to the Lebanese authorities, but according to Ajouri, this matter is “still being discussed.”
