Joint Palestinian Forces Apprehend Suspects Involved in Ain el-Hilweh Incident

The joint Palestinian security forces in the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh arrested the suspects involved in a drug gunfire fight that killed one of the dealers and spread chaos in the camp, the forces said in a statement on Wednesday.

“In the wake of the incident which took place on Tuesday evening in al-Sekkeh neighborhood of Tameer Ain al-Hilweh during which a huge quantity of drugs was confiscated and a fire trade took place and claimed the life of Alaa Samir Ahmed, a drug trafficker, the joint Palestinian forces made necessary contacts with various parties and managed to apprehend those involved,” said the statement.

Meanwhile, the arrestees await a decision by the Palestinian political leaderships of the city of Sidon.

By long-standing convention, the Lebanese Army does not enter Palestinian refugee camps, where security is managed by joint committees of Palestinian factions.

Ain el-Hilweh is an impoverished, overcrowded camp near the coastal city of Sidon, and is home to some 61,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 who have fled the war in Syria.