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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to arrive in Beirut amid pointed remarks by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on the issue of Palestinian weapons. Aoun emphasized that Palestinian arms in Lebanon have not served the cause of liberating Palestine, but instead fueled internal Palestinian strife as well as Lebanese-Palestinian clashes.
According to senior Lebanese officials, Beirut appears determined to address the matter at its core and will not tolerate any attempt to downplay or sidestep it. The Lebanese government has reportedly received information suggesting that Abbas may propose the formation of joint committees to discuss the weapons issue, but Beirut fears that such committees could serve as a pretext for delay.
Security sources say Lebanon’s security apparatus has already prepared a plan for disarming Palestinian camps, with current discussions focused solely on implementation mechanisms and a timeline for execution.
Ahead of Abbas’s visit, President Joseph Aoun discussed the matter with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, given Egypt’s close ties and coordination with the Palestinian Authority.
Sources indicate that Abbas is prepared to cooperate fully on the issue of disarming Palestinian factions within the camps. However, the detailed roadmap for implementation—reportedly already developed by the Lebanese side—has yet to be shared with the Palestinians.
Abbas is expected to receive these details during his upcoming meeting with President Aoun. There is speculation that these discussions will also involve the Lebanese Army leadership to establish a practical mechanism that ensures results without triggering clashes, especially within the camps.
Sources indicate that factions loyal to the Palestinian Authority are expected to play a central role in addressing the weapons issue, particularly in confronting groups outside their control — most notably Hamas and Islamic Jihad — as well as extremist armed factions operating in several camps, especially Ain al-Hilweh. Among these are Jund al-Sham, the faction linked to Haytham al-Shaabi, and Asbat al-Ansar. The plan reportedly also includes tracking and handing over fugitives wanted for crimes with terrorist implications.
President Mahmoud Abbas’s visit on the 21st of this month marks a pivotal moment in efforts to address the issue of Palestinian weapons, amid Lebanon’s firm stance that the exclusive right to bear arms belongs to the Lebanese state. This position will remain central to all discussions — including those with Hezbollah — with one key distinction: while the Lebanese government believes swift progress is possible with the Palestinians, any breakthrough with Hezbollah is expected to require an open-ended timeline.
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