Palestinian Wounded in Shooting in Ain el-Hilweh Camp

A Palestinian man was shot with gunfire early on Thursday when an unknown assailant opened fire at him in the refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in Sidon, the National News Agency reported.

An unknown assailant opened fire at Mohammad Hamdan, a member of Islamic extremist Bilal Badr group, injuring him in the abdomen at the al-Fawqani street, NNA said.

Heavy gunfire was heard inside the camp after the incident, it added.

Such incidents have become frequent in recent years in Ain el-Hilweh, the largest of Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps.

By long-standing convention, the Lebanese army does not enter the Palestinian camps in the country, leaving the Palestinian factions themselves to handle security.

That has created lawless areas in many camps, and Ain el-Hilweh has gained notoriety as a refuge for extremists and fugitives.

Reports said lately that Palestinian factions and the residents of Ain el-Hilweh have received warnings from Lebanese sides that some militants are seeking to enable jihadist groups to seize control of the camp, which is the largest in Lebanon.

A senior Palestinian delegation held talks with Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Monday and reassured that Palestinians in Lebanon will not allow jihadist groups to seize control of any Palestinian refugee camp in the country.