Clashes in Ein al-Helwa Camp continue

Tension escalated in Ein al-Helwa camp following a series of assassinations which started last week, between Fatah and extremist Islamist groups from Jund al-Sham, resulting in two deaths from Fatah and others wounded from both parties. It has been stated, Sunday afternoon, that unidentified gunmen shot Amer Fustoq, a bodyguard of Armed Struggle’s Commander Mahmoud Issa, el-Lino, at the camp’s vegetable market. Fustoq was transferred to a hospital in Saida, where he was pronounced dead. Others were wounded in the shooting, including a child and a woman. Subsequently, gunmen opened fire, and violent clashes between Fatah and Jund al-Sham elements broke out inside the camp, where medium and heavy artillery were used, resulting in several injuries on both sides. Fatah’s injured were identified to be Bilal Mohamed Selim Balouli, referred to as Talal al-Ordoni, Yousif Saadi, Mohamed Hosni Owaid, and Mohamed Abdel Mostafa. The numbers and identities of Jund al-Sham injured individuals remains unknown, as there are judicial memos against them which prevented them from being transferred to hospitals outside the camp. Unrest still dominates the camp, as heavy displacement started to take place, particularly by families who live in the areas where violent clashes prevailed. Intensive meetings between the Palestinian Follow-up Committee and officials of Palestinian factions are said to be due, in order to prevent escalation of the situation.