Hamas Denies Allegations Of Having Military Facilities In Lebanon

Illustration of Israeli fighter jets. (Wikimedia Commons/Deror Avi)

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas has denied Israeli claims accusing them of having military installations and training grounds in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

Accusing Israel of a " brutal attack" in the Ain al-Helweh camp, Hamas said in a statement, "claiming the targeted location is a 'train complex affiliated with the movement' is mere fabrication and lies," stressing: "There is no military installation in Palestinian camps in Lebanon," quoted from the Daily Sabah November 20.

The Israeli military released a video of an attack that hit a building, but Hamas claimed "the targeted location is an open sports field that is often visited by youths in the camp," and "they who were targeted were a group of boys" who were on the ground at the time.

At least 13 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes at the Palestinian refugee camp Ain al-Hilweh intenuated City, southern Lebanon on Tuesday.

In a statement, Lebanese authorities said several other people were injured in an attack targeting a center inside the camp, without specifying the exact number.

According to state news agency NNA, three missiles were fired at the center. The media said a large number of injured people were hospitalized after the attack, amid calls for residents to donate blood to the victims.

Israeli soldiers claim the attack targeted Hamas members inside the center. They accused the targeted facility of being used to plan an attack on Israel.

The attack came hours after two people were killed in an Israeli drone strike on Bint Jbeil and Blide in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.

Israeli soldiers launched a similar attack on the Ain al-Hilweh camp in October 2024, which killed six people, including three children.

It is known that tensions have risen in southern Lebanon for weeks, with Israeli soldiers intensifying airstrikes almost daily in Lebanese territory, allegedly targeting Hezbollah members and infrastructure.

Israeli soldiers have killed more than 4,000 people and injured nearly 17,000 people in their attacks in Lebanon, which began in October 2023 and turned into full-scale offensives in September 2024.

Under a ceasefire announced in November 2024, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon this January, but only part were withdrawn and continued to maintain military presence at five border posts.