Thousands of mourners gathered in south Lebanon for the funeral of Abu Ashraf al Armoushi, a Palestinian military general with the Fatah group, who was killed in a refugee camp. The killing of Armoushi in the Ein el-Hilweh camp sparked violent clashes between Palestinian factions, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 people. The clashes have pitted members of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party against Islamist groups accused of carrying out the attack. Lebanese officials brokered a ceasefire agreement, but sporadic gunfire continued. The violence began when an unknown gunman attempted to kill Palestinian militant Mahmoud Khalil but killed his companion instead. Full-blown clashes erupted when Islamic militants shot and killed Armoushi and three escorts as they were walking through a parking lot. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that 11 people had been killed and 40 injured. Lebanese army spokesperson confirmed that at least nine people were killed in the camp, while some reports suggested higher numbers. Lebanese officials have called for the army to take control of the camps. Fatah and the rival Hamas group issued statements condemning the violence and calling for dialogue. There are nearly 500,000 Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA in Lebanon.
Funeral held for Palestinian general killed in Lebanon
