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Lebanon: Ceasefire Agreements Stumbling in Ain al-Hilweh | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Clashes continue in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp despite agreed ceasefire (Ali Hashisho/Reuters)


Beirut– Successive ceasefire agreements in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon since last Thursday have failed to restore security in the area.

The latest agreement was reached on Monday afternoon through a decision by the Palestinian political leadership, which includes representatives of the most prominent factions, however, residents of Ain al-Hilweh are still uncertain of the current situation and expect new rounds of fighting to erupt at any time between extremist militias and members of Fatah movement.

Clashes were renewed on Monday morning, resulting in the injury of three people and raising the toll of fighting that broke out last week to four dead and 16 wounded.

Sources in Fatah movement suggested that the latest ceasefire agreement would be “more stable than the previous arrangements”, since extremist groups have put pressure on the Islamic forces, especially on “Esbat al-Ansar” and “the Islamic militant movement” to reach a new agreement that would end the fighting, after receiving strong blows among their militias and hence need to rearrange their ranks.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that a high state of tension dominated the Palestinian refugee camp on Monday night.

It noted that clashes that took place Monday between the Palestinian joint force and Fatah Movement on one hand and the other two groups – Bader and Arkoub – caused more than nine injuries, in addition to material damage.

The NNA also said that a meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the Palestinian Embassy in an attempt to enforce a ceasefire and restore calm across the camp.