Beirut-The security situation at the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh is stable following the Lebanese army’s arrest of Imad Yassine, the emir of ISIS at the shantytown, last week.
The Palestinian factions are calling for better cooperation with security committees at the camp to limit tension.
Fatah Movement official Azzam al-Ahmed is expected to visit Beirut for talks aimed at facilitating the security cooperation with the Lebanese authorities and to organize Ain el-Hilweh’s security situation.
A high-ranking Palestinian official told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Ahmed is expected to attend the funeral of Nimer Haffad, the advisor of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who died last Thursday.
Al-Ahmed will hold meetings with Palestinian officials in Lebanon and the leaders of different factions at the camps before holding talks with Lebanese political figures.
The expected visit comes after tension at Ain el-Hilweh and mainly fears that extremist groups would take action to avenge the arrest of Yassine, who is said to be the ISIS leader at the camp.
But the Palestinian source said that the security situation in Ain el-Hilweh is under control. He said some skirmishes that take place at the camp from time to time are natural.
“There are no fears of major clashes,” said the source.
The extremists that are present at the camp have not yet made any move in retaliation to Yassine’s arrest. The militants are aware that the Lebanese army is determined to settle any conflict that could have severe repercussions.
Fatah is also determined to limit any tension at the camp and is in constant cooperation with the Lebanese authorities, the source added.
Cooperation between the factions and Lebanese authorities made huge progress in the past months after more than 50 suspects handed themselves over to the army.
Some of them are wanted for links to extremist organizations and involvement in shooting incidents.
On Friday, Palestinians Mohammed Ahmed Taha and Shawqi Ahmed Qaddouri surrendered to the army intelligence. They reside in the Bourj al-Shamali and al-Rashidiyeh camps.
Ahmed is also expected to discuss in Beirut complaints that some Palestinian factions are not handing over wanted suspects.
The Palestinian source said that “the concept of the community’s security is entangled with political calculations, which is providing a certain cover to some perpetrators.”
The Bilal Badr and Abed Fadda organizations are not handing over suspects to the joint security forces although decisions reached during meetings held by the factions clearly call for the arrest of wanted individuals, the source added.