Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades terrorists (file)
Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades terrorists (file)Haytham Ashtiyeh/Flash 90

The internal Palestinian Arab violence in Lebanese "refugee camps" continues to heat up, and according to UNRWA, the UN agency established for "Palestinian refugees," up to 3,000 Palestinian Arabs have been displaced due to the escalating clashes.

UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness said Tuesday that the displacement has been taking place in Ain al-Hilweh, the largest "camp" in the country which is located in southern Lebanon, reports the Palestinian Arab Ma'an News Agency.

Clashes between the Islamist group Jund al-Sham and the leading Palestinian Authority (PA) faction Fatah in Ain al-Hilweh left three people dead on Monday night, with the fighting continuing on into Tuesday morning.

The gunfights come despite a "ceasefire" on Sunday, after Jund al-Sham tried to assassinate the Fatah security chief in the town and sparked clashes in which three people were killed and 18 others were wounded. It appears that Jund al-Sham didn't take part in the "ceasefire" talks, which were attended by PA ambassador to Lebanon Ashraf Dabbour.

According to Gunness, the gun battles in the town have had a "serious impact on the Palestine refugee community."

"We are deeply concerned over reports that civilians are endangered and that our installations have been directly affected by the fighting," he said, noting UNRWA has limited access to Ain al-Hilweh.

"UNRWA condemns any armed group that fails to respect its obligations under international law to protect civilians and to respect the inviolability of United Nations premises."

Gunness said UNRWA is working on providing humanitarian goods to the camp, which is home to over 54,000 residents, with more Palestinian Arabs said to have entered in recent years from Syria.

Over 450,000 "Palestinian refugees" are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with most living in 12 camps. The Lebanese government has banned them from certain occupations, in addition to other restrictions.

All refugees in the world are treated by UNHRC, except for "Palestinian refugees" who are dealt with by the UNRWA established specifically for them. UNRWA has completely different protocols than those of UNHRC, having those it works with "inherit" refugee status indefinitely, and not integrating or naturalizing them into their host state.

No UN organization was established to aid the 850,000 Jewish refugees who fled or were expelled from Arab countries following 1948, losing their property and possessions. Some communities, such as the Jewish community in Yemen, had been there for thousands of years.