The killing of 24-year-old Lebanese national Elio Ernesto Abu Hanna by armed Palestinian militants at the entrance to Beirut’s Shatila camp on Sunday has provoked widespread public and political anger, reigniting debate over the presence of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon. The incident comes just weeks after Lebanese authorities announced the collection of arms from inside the camp.

Lebanese security and judicial authorities launched an immediate investigation into the killing. Preliminary reports indicate that early Sunday, gunmen from the Palestinian Security Committee set up a checkpoint at the camp’s entrance to inspect passing vehicles. According to initial accounts, Abu Hanna, who was driving his car, allegedly failed to stop at the checkpoint. One of the armed men reportedly fired a Kalashnikov assault rifle, striking Abu Hanna, who was taken to a hospital but died shortly after.

A senior Lebanese judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Samy Sader had instructed the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces to conduct a preliminary investigation. The goal is to identify the gunmen and determine whether the shooting occurred at an official checkpoint or under different circumstances.

“The information remains contradictory,” the source said. “Some reports suggest the victim accidentally entered the camp and panicked when confronted by the armed checkpoint, failing to stop. Others suggest he may have been lured to the site where he was killed.”

The source added that the investigation would soon clarify the facts and confirm the identities of the shooters.

A Palestinian official denied that the killing was premeditated, describing the incident as tragic for both Palestinians and Lebanese alike.

The official told Asharq Al-Awsat that in coordination with the Lebanese army, the Joint Palestinian Security Force had established checkpoints inside Shatila to curb the illegal carrying of weapons and maintain order.

“Abu Hanna was surprised by the checkpoint and failed to stop. One of the guards opened fire, fatally wounding him,” the source said.

A Palestinian investigative committee has been formed and is working closely with Lebanese authorities to uncover the full circumstances of the shooting and hand over responsibility to the Lebanese judicial system.

Colonel Abdel Hadi al-Asadi, head of media for the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon, emphasized that the investigation is being conducted under the direct supervision of Major General Al-Abed Ibrahim Khalil, in coordination with Lebanese army intelligence.

“Once the shooters are identified, we will fully comply with Lebanese law,” he added. 

The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee condemned the killing as a “tragic crime” and extended condolences to the family of Abu Hanna. The committee pledged to monitor the investigation and hold those responsible accountable.

“The key lesson from this incident is that weapons still held by some factions within the camps do not serve the Palestinian cause and instead pose a serious threat to Lebanon’s stability and security,” the committee said, reaffirming support for “placing all weapons under the authority of the Lebanese state and extending state control over all national territory.”