ANKARA 

Palestinian factions in Lebanon handed over on Friday the third batch of weapons belonging to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut to the Lebanese army.

The handover comes in line with a joint presidential statement issued on May 21 by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) said army vehicles entered Burj al-Barajneh camp to collect the latest batch of Palestinian weapons.

Meanwhile, Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement carried by the Palestinian news agency Wafa that “both sides have agreed to establish a joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee to monitor conditions in the refugee camps and work toward improving the living and humanitarian conditions for Palestinian refugees, while respecting Lebanese sovereignty.”

He added that both parties reaffirmed their commitment to “ensuring the social, economic, and human rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, guaranteeing them a dignified life without undermining their right of return or affecting their national identity.”

The official emphasized the principle that all weapons in Lebanese territory must be under the exclusive control of the Lebanese state.

The recent handover of weapons by Palestinian factions in Lebanon comes amid heightened debate over the state’s control of arms across the country.

Earlier in August, the Lebanese Cabinet tasked the army with drafting a comprehensive disarmament plan, marking a move widely seen as targeting Hezbollah for the first time in years.

The Cabinet also endorsed the goals of a US-backed proposal, submitted by special envoy Tom Barrack, which calls for exclusive state control over all weapons in Lebanon.