Lebanon on Thursday began the long-awaited process of disarming Palestinian factions inside its refugee camps, with an initial handover of weapons from the Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut to the Lebanese army.

The move, announced by the prime minister’s office, is part of a broader state initiative to establish an exclusive monopoly on arms. Further deliveries are expected from Burj al-Barajneh and other camps across the country in the coming weeks.

The handover marks the most serious attempt in years to tackle the question of weapons inside Lebanon’s 12 Palestinian camps, which have long operated with a degree of autonomy beyond the reach of the state.

Army troops and engineering units entered Burj al-Barajneh on Thursday afternoon, sealing off camp entrances with military vehicles. Two small trucks rolled into one of the camp’s narrow alleys, with one leaving shortly before 6:30 p.m. carrying weapons covered by tarpaulins.

The transfer proceeded in calm conditions, with camp residents and members of Palestinian factions observing without incident. 

An official from Fatah told Reuters that only “illegal weapons” which had entered the camp in the past 24 hours were being handed over. One pickup truck left the site carrying bags stuffed with light weapons, with the butts of machine guns protruding from some of the sacks.

وصول شاحنة محمّلة بالسلاح إلى ساحة مخيم #برج_البراجنة لتسليمه إلى #الجيش_اللبناني pic.twitter.com/QvnJUm8y1x

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) August 21, 2025

The disarmament drive stems from an agreement announced on May 21 between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which reaffirmed Lebanon’s sovereignty and the principle that only the State should bear arms.

Two days later, Lebanese and Palestinian officials agreed on a timeline and mechanism for the weapons transfers. The plan also included the creation of a joint committee to oversee camp affairs, safeguard Palestinians’ humanitarian and social rights, and enforce an inventory of arms.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Abbas, said weapons were also handed over Thursday at al-Bass camp in southern Lebanon and would continue to be delivered at other sites in line with the agreement.

Ramez Dimashkieh, head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, said the Burj al-Barajneh handover “will be the first step, with further batches to be delivered in the coming weeks from Burj al-Barajneh and the rest of the camps.”

Nonetheless, not all groups endorsed the move. A statement issued in the name of “the Palestinian Factions in Lebanon” and circulated by Hamas described the handover as “an internal organizational matter within the Fatah movement” with “no connection, near or far, to the issue of Palestinian weapons in the camps.”

The statement insisted that Palestinian arms remained tied to “the right of return and the just Palestinian cause” and would stay in place “as long as the occupation remains on Palestinian soil.”

Fatah spokesperson Badih al-Habet said President Aoun had acknowledged that personal light weapons were part of “Arab and national culture,” suggesting they would not be included in the disarmament.

The disarmament plan had been delayed for months due to disagreements among Palestinian factions – including Abbas’s Fatah, rival Hamas, and other Islamist and leftist groups – over how the process should be carried out.

U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack hailed Thursday’s handover as “a historic step toward unity and stability.” In a post on X, he congratulated the Lebanese government and Fatah for their “agreement on voluntary disarmament in Beirut camps,” calling it "a great accomplishment as a result of the bold action recently taken by the Lebanese Council of Ministers."

"A historic step toward unity and stability, showing true commitment to peace and cooperation," he added.

Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian security official reportedly arrived in Beirut from Ramallah and held talks with faction leaders at the Palestinian embassy. The official is expected to tour several camps, beginning with Burj al-Barajneh, to supervise and coordinate the weapons transfers.

For now, uncertainty remains over the extent of implementation. Some Palestinian officials stressed that only “illegal” or newly smuggled weapons were being handed over, not those belonging to established factions.

Still, Thursday’s quiet handover was seen by many as a symbolic breakthrough in Lebanon’s decades-long struggle to assert state authority over weapons outside its control.