Lebanon Begins Disarmament Process in Palestinian Refugee Camps

Lebanon plans to begin disarming armed Palestinian factions in its 12 official refugee camps starting mid-June, aiming to bring all weapons in the country under state control. This initiative, agreed upon by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, follows a decades-old arrangement that has allowed Palestinian factions to manage camp security independently. The disarmament process is viewed as a test case for Lebanon's broader goal of disarming the powerful Iran-backed militia Hezbollah, which remains outside state control. While the effort includes improving the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees, Hamas criticized the process for excluding its representation and called for inclusive dialogue with all Palestinian factions. The move reflects mounting international pressure on Lebanon to curb armed non-state actors and consolidate security authority under the government.