Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas landed in Beirut on Wednesday for a three-day visit aimed at tackling one of Lebanon’s most delicate security challenges: disarming armed Palestinian factions and bringing Lebanon’s 12 official refugee camps under full state control.

Abbas was received at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport by Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajj before heading to the presidential palace in Baabda for talks with President Joseph Aoun. 

Abbas visit, his first since 2017, comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over the status of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon, particularly following the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, and amid international pressure to advance the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Following their meeting, Aoun and Abbas issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to bolstering cooperation, supporting Palestinian rights, and preserving Lebanese sovereignty.

The two leaders underscored the deep fraternal ties between the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples and committed to enhancing cooperation and coordination at various levels. They reiterated the need for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East; one that enables Palestinians to establish an independent state in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

The statement called for a peace process that guarantees the legitimate rights of all countries and peoples in the region. They condemned the ongoing Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which they said had led to “devastating human losses and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.” The presidents urged the international community to take “immediate and serious action” to halt the offensive and to ensure full protection for Palestinian civilians.

They also emphasized the need to reinvigorate the role of the United Nations and its institutions in protecting the Palestinian people, upholding international law, and enforcing UN resolutions.

On Lebanon’s southern border, Abbas and Aoun denounced what they described as Israel’s “repeated violations” of Lebanese sovereignty. They urged the United States and France to pressure Israel to fully implement the agreement reached under their joint auspices in November 2024. That deal calls for an end to hostilities, Israel’s withdrawal from occupied hills, and the release of Lebanese prisoners, enabling the Lebanese army to fully deploy along internationally recognized borders in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Addressing the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the two presidents reiterated their rejection of any form of resettlement or displacement. They stressed their joint commitment to a “just solution” that would allow refugees to return to their homes in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

The leaders called for continued international support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), urging increased funding to allow the agency to maintain its essential services to Palestinian refugees.

As part of a broader effort to address conditions in Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps, Abbas and Aoun agreed to establish a joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee. The body will be tasked with monitoring living conditions and working to improve them while ensuring full respect for Lebanese sovereignty and legal frameworks.

They also affirmed their shared responsibility to secure “dignified living conditions” for refugees without compromising their right of return or affecting their national identity.

On the security front, both presidents emphasized the principle that weapons must remain solely in the hands of the Lebanese state. They called for an end to all armed activity outside state authority and reaffirmed the importance of preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

“The era of weapons outside state control is over,” the statement said, noting that both the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples had paid a heavy price over decades of conflict.

They pledged to strengthen coordination between official Lebanese and Palestinian authorities to ensure security within and around the refugee camps. President Abbas reaffirmed that Palestinian factions would not use Lebanese territory as a base for military operations and would respect Lebanon’s official policy of non-interference in regional conflicts.

The two sides also agreed to step up joint efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, and to ensure that refugee camps do not become safe havens for militant groups.