Recent administrative and security changes ordered by the Palestinian Authority have sparked widespread attention, coming just weeks after President Mahmoud Abbas visited Lebanon and reached a tentative agreement to remove weapons from Palestinian refugee camps.

The changes, which include key military posts within the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon, appear to signal a broader effort by Ramallah to reassert control inside the camps, and to prepare for a politically sensitive disarmament process that has long been a source of tension.

According to information circulated in Lebanese and Palestinian circles, the latest security appointments include:

• Brigadier General Fakhreddin Mohammad Shahada Qassem, appointed Director of Training in the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon

• Brigadier General Mahmoud Hussein Mohsen al-Hassan, appointed Director of Central Weapons Management

• Colonel Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Salem, appointed Director of Supply, Logistics, and General Equipment

• Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Hadi Yehya Mahmoud al-Asadi, appointed Director of Public Relations and Media

• Colonel Ashraf Naeem Ibrahim al-Hajj, appointed Director of Organization and Administration

• Brigadier General Marwan Ahmad Merhi Nasser, appointed Director of Military Finance

A source with direct knowledge of the situation told Kataeb.org that the shake-up, which began with the dismissal of longtime Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashraf Dabbour, is part of a broader effort to overhaul the organizational, security, and administrative structures within the camps. The goal, the source said, is to reorganize the internal framework in preparation for the sensitive phase to come, particularly following reports that Dabbour had sought to obstruct the disarmament process due to a disagreement over how to handle the issue.

What reinforces this assessment, the source added, is the timing of both the ambassador’s dismissal and the wave of security appointments. Dabbour had held the position for 13 years and was widely accused of monopolizing authority without ever being held accountable. The changes, therefore, appear to reflect a shift by the Palestinian Authority aimed at dismantling this concentration of power.

According to the same source, these moves are also intended to “stir stagnant waters” around the disarmament issue, which was officially agreed upon during President Abbas’s latest visit to Lebanon. The Palestinian Authority is reportedly seeking to reassert control over both the decision-making process and security on the ground in the camps where authority that had long been confined to the ambassador and a handful of close associates. This context helps explain why Mohammad al-Assaad was appointed to replace Dabbour, as he is not considered a central player in Palestinian security affairs.

The source added that the wave of security appointments is not over. Additional changes are expected in the coming weeks and could affect a senior figure within the Fatah movement. This possibility sheds light on the current internal divisions within Fatah, which have been deepened by disagreements over how the weapons issue is being handled. Some within the movement reportedly reject President Abbas’s approach, arguing that it fails to account for the complex realities inside the camps.

In this context, the source confirmed that the Palestinian Authority has also issued a separate decision to re-elect the popular committees inside the camps. The aim is to broaden the base of representation, especially for Palestinian youth, while ensuring a more balanced and inclusive structure that reflects the diversity of political factions and grassroots forces across the camps.