Clashes continue in Ain El Helweh camp, state of paralysis prevails

A security source in southern Lebanon reported that the clashes in Ain el-Hilweh camp continued, on Saturday afternoon, between Bilal Badr group against joint force and the Fatah movement, where clashes by rocket-propelled grenades are heard throughout the southern city of Saida.

Deputy Commander of the Palestinian National Security Maj. Gen. Munir al-Maqdah said that things are going in the military direction and towards the decisive. The Lebanese army stationed in the vicinity of the Palestinian camp took security measures at its entrances and closed Al-Hasba motorway adjacent to the camp in both directions for the sake of public safety. This coincided with the closure of official departments and institutions in Saida government. 

The clashes left a citizen injured in Saida neighborhood. It was reported that Fatah movement brought fighters from a number of camps to support the elements in the camp of Ain al-Hilweh. Yesterday's clashes killed three people and wounded 10, including citizens and a press photographer.

The Spokesman of the Council of Palestinian Scholars in Lebanon, Sheikh Mohammed Saleh Al-Mo'ad, condemned the the incidents in Ain al-Hilweh camp, from almost daily clashes that harm the camp's interest.

He stressed that the continued fighting in Ain al-Hilweh camp without a resolution to end these stray groups is a betrayal of the Palestinian issue. He called on all parties to work to solve the problem radically and to hold criminals accountable from any side and hand them over to the Lebanese judiciary.

The representative of the Hamas movement in Lebanon Ali Baraka, announced the movement's support for the joint security force in the camp of Ain al-Hilweh, and condemns the attack on it.