Palestine refugee camp rivals in Lebanon agree to cease-fire after clashes

A cease-fire agreement was reached in the Palestinian Ein El-Hilweh camp in southern Lebanon, a government official announced, Anadolu Agency reports.

The cease-fire brokered by the Lebanese authorities is set to take effect as of 6 pm local time (1500GMT), said Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker.

The death toll from renewed clashes between Palestinian armed groups in the Ein El-Hilweh refugee camp has reached 15 after a week of violent clashes, Lebanon’s state media reported on Thursday.

According to the National News Agency, the clashes which erupted last week between the Palestinian Fatah movement and a rival armed group in the camp also left nearly 150 others injured.

READ: The uncomfortable truth about Ain Al-Hilweh, the capital of Palestinian ‘shatat’ and agony

On 29 July, the camp saw heavy clashes between the same fighting groups, leaving 11 people dead and more than 40 others injured, according to UN figures.

Established in 1948, Ein El-Hilweh is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, with 50,000 registered people, according to UN figures, though unofficial statistics put the camp’s population at 70,000.

The total number of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is estimated to be about 200,000, distributed among 12 camps, most of which are controlled by Palestinian factions.

READ: Hamas official in Lebanon to ensure ceasefire holds in Palestine refugee camp