Despite ceasefire, clashes in Saida Ain Al-Hilweh camp ongoing
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Clashes intensify in Ain Al-Hilweh camp in southern Lebanon after news that the commander of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Saida and a number of his companions were killed.
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Plumes of smoke in Ain Al-Helweh refugee camp in Saida, South Lebanon, on July 30, 2023 (AFP)
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Lebanon reported that clashes were ongoing in the Ain Al-Hilweh camp for Palestinian refugees in the southern city of Saida, amid security measures in the city, preventing cars from passing on the roads adjacent to the camp as a precautionary measure.
This comes despite Palestinian factions announcing after a meeting in Haret Saida that a ceasefire in Ain Al-Hilweh camp was reached between all parties effective 6:00 pm.
The agreement was reached following a meeting of the factions at the headquarters of the Amal Movement in Haret Saida.
The Palestinian Joint Action Committee convened today, Sunday, in the presence of a delegation from the leadership of the Amal Movement, a representative of Hezbollah, and a representative of Sheikh Maher Hammoud. In their statement, they agreed on an immediate ceasefire in Ain al-Hilweh camp, urging all parties to withdraw gunmen from the roads and control the situation inside the camp.
Moreover, it was agreed to form a Palestinian investigative committee, under the supervision of the Joint Palestinian Action Committee, charged with finding out the truth about the assassination of Brigadier General Abu Ashraf Al-Armoushi and his companions and handing over the perpetrators to the competent security services and authorities in the Lebanese state.
The attendees also affirmed their commitment to what was approved in the meeting of the Joint Palestinian Action Committee in Saida, which was held today over yesterday's incident, and they unanimously pledged to hand over all those involved no matter to what side they belonged.
Earlier in the day, our correspondent confirmed that the camp is witnessing violent shelling amid fears of an expansion of the scope of the clashes, indicating that a house was hit by an RPG.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported news of the killing of the commander of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Saida, Abu Ashraf Al-Armoushi, and a number of his companions.
Clashes were renewed in the camp after the meeting of the representatives of the Joint Action Committee at Al-Noor Islamic Center, with the participation of the Joint Force Commander, Major General Mahmoud Al-Ajouri, ended.
The attendees condemned the heinous crime, stressing the necessity of “working on a ceasefire to prevent more bloodshed and to prevent the displacement of our people from the camp,” in addition to handing over the killers to the Lebanese judiciary, vowing to keep the meetings open until the end of the situation.
إرتفاع وتيرة الاشتباكات بعد تجددها في مخيم عين الحلوة pic.twitter.com/zu7tXRudkf
— مصدر مسؤول (@fouadkhreiss) July 30, 2023
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army Command announced in a tweet that a soldier was injured as a result of a mortar shell falling inside a military barracks during clashes in Ain Al-Hilweh camp, explaining that the soldier was wounded by shrapnel and is in stable condition.
Fatah Movement of the southern Saida region issued a statement saying, "The movement calls on all the Palestinian people in Lebanon in general and Ain Al-Hilweh camp and Saida in particular to stand in solidarity with its efforts to put an end to Osbat Al-Ansar” and any side affiliated to it.
In its statement, the Movement vowed that "the blood of the martyr leader Al-Armoushi and his comrades will not dry up until terrorism inside the camp is eliminated."
Furthermore, the Fatah Movement reassured the Lebanese army, stressing that the Movement's readiness and equipment "will serve the interests of the Lebanese state until the last bullet."
The Ministry of Health evacuates Saida Governmental Hospital
The media office of the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced, in a statement, that "given the security situation in Ain Al-Hilweh camp, the Ministry, in cooperation with the administration of Saida Governmental Hospital, evacuated all patients from the hospital located on the outskirts of the camp to ensure their safety.”
فرق الإسعاف تتعرض الى رشقات نارية خلال الاشتباكات التي اندلعت داخل مخيم عين الحلوة
— مصدر مسؤول (@fouadkhreiss) July 30, 2023
pic.twitter.com/OWwgQaQSo1
The statement added, "A number of those suffering from critical health conditions have been transferred to nearby hospitals. Work is also underway to distribute dialysis patients to the neighboring hospitals so that they can receive the necessary treatment.”
These clashes come about two months after similar clashes that broke out and resulted in the killing of a Fatah member inside the same camp.
The Ain Al-Hilweh camp houses more than 54,000 Palestinian refugees registered with the United Nations.
