Report: Fugitives in Ain el-Hilweh Successively Surrendering

Some promising developments have emerged lately in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh after several fugitives, who sought refuge in the camp, turned themselves in to the army intelligence the recent was Mohammed Taha, son of Tawfiq Taha the commander of Abdullah Azzam Brigades and another fugitive of the Darwish family, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Tuesday.

Palestinian sources following up closely on the issue, assured that more fugitives will turn themselves in and that the army checkpoints that were erected at the entrances to the camp saw nine fugitives surrender in less than two weeks.

They added that there are around 600 people of different nationalities inside the camp classified as wanted by the Lebanese authorities. They did not rule out the prospect that high-risk fugitives might consider turning themselves in “since the time is more appropriate than ever.”

The daily said it obtained information that “some of these fugitives have opened channels with Palestinian and Lebanese parties in order to test the waters.”

A senior Palestinian official pointed out that the wave of surrenders can only be seen as positive since it vents the security pressure that has been burdening the camp and its residents. It heralds for a new and advanced stage of Lebanese-Palestinian cooperation in countering any attempts that aim to shake the security situation in the camp, or use it as a conduit to harm Lebanon's stability and safety.

The official added that what is happening in Ain el-Hilweh delivers a two-target message: towards Lebanon's neighboring countries that the camp has been freed of guilt of being a harbor for fugitives, and a reassurance message to fugitives, who wish to surrender, that the opportunity became available to them today more than ever.

However, some factors have contributed in encouraging the fugitives to surrender, most notably the good treatment given by the army to the detained in addition to the psychological and social pressures and the dire living conditions they experience in the camp.