Video: Who burned Nahr al-Bared?

Ray Smith, Electronic Lebanon, 5 May 2008

"Since 10 October 2007, residents of the destroyed Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon have been gradually allowed by the Lebanese army to return to the ruins of their homes. However, the core of the camp, the so-called "old camp," as well as parts of the "new camp," which doesn't fall under the mandate of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, remain sealed off and are still under the exclusive control of the Lebanese army.

On 31 March 2008, the Lebanese army made accessible a few dozen houses in Sahabe and Majles Street, close to Nahr al-Bared's old camp. In Majles Street, 20 buildings on one side of the street were opened, while the other side remained fenced off by barbed wire and army checkpoints. Most of these buildings were home to at least three families as they were several floors tall.

When people entered their homes they found that many of their belongings had disappeared, such as furniture, clothes, and appliances including TVs, refrigerators, computers, gas stoves, and washing machines. Where belongings were not missing, they were either burnt or vandalized. Even the frames of windows and doors, as well as the doors themselves, or bathroom fixtures such as toilets or taps have disappeared.

All 20 buildings bore signs of burning; sometimes, entire rooms or even whole floors were completely burnt. In many cases, there is clear evidence that furniture was used to start a fire within the home. In the al-Majles community center, for example, a fire was set at three different points. In at least in 16 of the buildings, traces of flammable liquids, including petrol and gasoline, could be found on the walls. Thus, many residents doubt that the burnings were caused by shells, grenades or bombs and suspect the Lebanese army of manually setting their homes on fire........"