File photo: Lebanese army in Mieh Mieh Camp
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Friday spoke with Lebanese President Michel Aoun to discuss the tense security situation at Southern Lebanon’s Mieh Mieh refugee camp, which has been rocked in recent days by armed clashes between rival Palestinian factions.
According to a statement released by Haniyeh’s office, during their conversation, the two men agreed that the clashes -- which have pitted Fatah against the Ansar Allah movement -- must end immediately.
Describing Lebanon’s security as a “Palestinian priority”, Haniyeh stressed the need to preempt any activity at the Mieh Mieh camp -- or at any other Palestinian refugee camps -- that might adversely affect the stability of the host country.
A delegation from Egypt’s intelligence service arrived in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday to continue talks with Hamas leaders on inter-Palestinian reconciliation and truce with Israel.The delegation crossed into Gaza via the Erez crossing, an official working at the crossing said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.The Egyptian delegation has been holding a shuttle diplomacy between the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel for several days, during which they are meeting with officials of Hamas, Fatah and the Israeli government.The talks are taking part with a view to reaching a truce between Hamas and Israel in one side and achieving Palestinian reconciliation between the Palestinian rivals.Wednesday's visit is the third by the Egyptian delegation to the Gaza Strip within a week.On October 3, a Hamas delegation concluded a four-day visit to Cairo where they held talks with Egyptian officials on truce and Palestinian reconciliation.The Palestinian rift between Fatah and Hamas has prevailed since the latter won the overwhelming majority in the 2006 parliamentary elections and seized control of Gaza after deadly infighting a year later.Israel is now ‘big brother’: US envoy
Egypt resumes shuttle diplomacy between Hamas, Israel
The two leaders also agreed on the need to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.
Violent clashes first erupted at the Mieh Mieh camp on Oct. 16 between members of Fatah and Ansar Allah.
After a meeting of representatives of Palestinian factions held at Lebanese army headquarters, a truce was eventually hammered out, which called for the deployment of a Hamas-run force at the camp and the withdrawal of all gunmen from the facility.
Located some four kilometers east of Lebanon’s southern city of Sidon, all three groups -- Fatah, Hamas and Ansar Allah -- reportedly maintain an armed presence inside the camp.
First established in 1954, the Mieh Mieh refugee camp is currently home to some 5,000 Palestinian refugees.