Lebanese PM praises Meshaal's efforts for refugee camp ceasefire

Lebanon’s prime minister has praised Khaled Meshaal’s efforts to keep Palestinian refugee camps out of the current unrest in the country. Najib Mikati called the head of the Hamas political bureau to express his thanks personally. Meshaal was able to broker a ceasefire in a flare-up on the edge of Ein Al-Hilwa camp near Sidon earlier this week.

According to media reports, Hamas has actually played a “significant” role in keeping the camps out of the fighting between the Lebanese Army and followers of a Salafi shaikh in Sidon. Mr Meshaal has told the prime minister that the Palestinians in Lebanon are very keen on maintaining good relations with their Lebanese neighbours.

Along with Hamas’s representative in Lebanon, Ali Barakeh, Meshaal has been active on the ground to make sure that Palestinian refugees do not get dragged into the violence. His efforts included a discussion with the Speaker of the parliament in Beirut, Nabih Berri to brief him about the situation.