Starting June 16, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is expected to begin implementing its long-awaited decision to hand over weapons from Palestinian camps in Lebanon, fulfilling a pledge made by President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to Beirut nearly a month ago. 

As the deadline approaches, both the Lebanese state and the Palestinian Authority face the daunting challenge of implementing the decision, which is supposed to cover all 12 Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon. These camps have long operated outside the authority of the Lebanese state, with most falling under the control of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other factions that have broken away from Fatah and do not recognize the authority of the PA. Some camps, such as Shatila in Beirut, are particularly problematic due to widespread individual weapons and rampant drug trafficking.

Still, the path to implementation remains fraught with risk. Hamas continues to reject Abbas' unilateral decision and refuses to participate in the process. Internal divisions within Fatah have also led the party to request a delay in hopes of gaining more time.

On the Lebanese side, Annahar newspaper reported that the government will not back down from the disarmament plan. There is a firm commitment to implement the decision, as any reversal would damage the government’s credibility and reputation regarding its stated policy commitments. Abandoning the plan would also be seen as a violation of the principle of state sovereignty and its exclusive control over security and political affairs, as outlined in the cabinet’s policy statement. 

Failure to implement these commitments could also affect Lebanon's relationship with donor countries and humanitarian institutions, many of which have already begun scaling back their services to Palestinian refugees. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), for example, has recently reduced some of its assistance programs. These developments bring renewed attention to the broader refugee file, especially given that over 200,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon remain without basic civil rights and are increasingly seen through the lens of security threats rather than humanitarian concerns.

During Abbas’ visit to Beirut, a preliminary agreement was reached that would see Palestinian refugees granted civil rights in exchange for the surrender of their weapons. This has raised questions over whether the plan is part of a broader strategy to integrate Palestinians into Lebanese society. 

Sources close to the discussions told Nidaa Al-Watan newspaper that the disarmament timetable remains conditional on the outcome of further negotiations. Some modifications to the timeline may be introduced due to conflicting accounts and logistical issues. For instance, the Palestinian Forces Alliance was informed that the first phase would begin on June 16, while Azzam al-Ahmad, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the official in charge of Lebanese affairs, stated there were no fixed deadlines. Beyond scheduling, the process demands agreement on every detail and extensive dialogue to overcome concerns and potential obstacles.

Two parallel tracks are currently underway to manage the process. The first involves coordination with the Palestinian Authority through the newly established joint committees dedicated to the disarmament file. Al-Ahmad is expected to return to Beirut soon at the head of an official Palestinian security and military delegation to resume discussions with Lebanese officials, aiming to resolve outstanding questions from his recent visit.

Palestinian sources indicated that Al-Ahmad is likely to convene a meeting with the Palestinian Joint Action Committee to discuss the issue in its entirety and unify the Palestinian position. His previous attempt to do so during last week’s visit was postponed due to the absence of several key leaders from the Palestinian Forces Alliance, who were in Iran attending a memorial for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

According to the same sources, there is a tacit Palestinian consensus on the need to link disarmament with the granting of civil and social rights; a process that would require either new legislation by the Lebanese Parliament or executive decisions by the Cabinet.

The second track involves coordination between the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee and the Palestinian Joint Action Committee in Lebanon, which includes all major factions such as Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. A meeting had been scheduled for Thursday, June 11, but was postponed due to the travel of both Ambassador Dameshkieh and Prime Minister Mikati. A new date will be set upon their return.