Palestinian authority advances security restructuring in Lebanon

A Palestinian Authority (PA) delegation has arrived in Beirut to push forward the restructuring of the Palestinian National Security Forces. The mission is being overseen by an officer dispatched from Ramallah, with Raed Dawoud, head of the PA’s oversight body, supervising the transition of command from Major General Subhi Abu Arab to Major General Al-Abed Khalil.

Khalil, appointed in June, is responsible for the “Lebanese arena” and has already implemented new formations within the camps and at the embassy. Abu Arab resigned in anticipation of his removal, while Khalil’s mandate was extended for three months. Dawoud, meanwhile, is focusing on administrative and financial oversight, including budget control.

Restoring order and discipline

According to Abdel Hadi El Asadi, Director of Public Relations and Media for the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon, the restructuring aims to restore order and discipline within the camps.

Changes began about three months ago, and we continue to identify gaps and make improvements

El Asadi explained that a new leadership has been established to enforce stricter rules, including a ban on firing weapons, patrolling armed inside the camps, and other regulations that reflect military discipline “similar to any regular army.”

Yasser Abbas, son of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, has emerged as the de facto supervisor of Palestinian affairs in Lebanon on behalf of both the PA and Fatah. His growing role comes as veteran Fatah leader Azzam al-Ahmad has stepped back from local affairs following disputes with the Abbas family.

Weapons handover and camp security

One of Yasser Abbas’s key responsibilities is overseeing the handover of weapons in coordination with Lebanese authorities. So far, Fatah remains the only faction to surrender arms, delivering outdated rockets and ammunition that posed safety risks.

The weapons handover, conducted in four phases, resulted in “four camps now entirely free of weapons, seven others transferring their weapons to the Lebanese state, and one camp coming fully under Lebanese authority,” according to El Asadi.

“The PA delegation remains consistently active in Lebanon, returning every week to ten days. The head of the Palestinian National Security Forces oversees all forces in Lebanon under his authority, coordinating improvements with the Lebanese Army,” he said.

We operate in Lebanon under Lebanese authority

The surrender of weapons by Fatah has placed new pressure on other factions, particularly Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which are currently engaged in talks with the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee. At the same time, Palestinian factions are working on a joint paper addressing not only the future of weapons but also camp conditions and refugee rights. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other coalition groups, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, are all contributing to this effort.