TRIPOLI — The residents of Beddawi Palestinian Refugee Camp, north of Tripoli,  woke up on Friday to slogans written on the walls and streets of the camp's neighborhoods, protesting the recent decision to close the unofficial crossings and roads connecting the camp to surrounding areas, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the North reported.

Closing these routes, a move perceived by many in the camp a threat to their livelihoods and daily way of life,  was a collaborative decision made by the Palestinian embassy and factions on one side, and the Lebanese Army on the other.

Some of the painted slogans call for the Palestinian Authority's dissolution, reflecting anger toward the leading political party in which Fatah is the largest faction.

The Lebanese Army launched the second phase of its operation to close several official and unofficial entrances to Beddawi by blocking a secondary road linking the camp to the neghboring Mankoubine area with concrete blocks on Saturday.

The decision to close off routes linking Beddawi to the outside world was taking two years ago, but postponed since the Gaza war began on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Palestinian embassy in Beirut confirmed its support for the project in a statement, while the Palestinian factions and popular committees in the North also endorsed this approach, described as "concerted and non-hostile."

The accelerated implementation of these closures is particularly in response to a series of confrontations between camp residents and adjacent neighborhoods.

However, for many camp residents, these informal routes are essential for commuting, work, and accessing basic services. Shutting them down is seen as a disruption to their already difficult living conditions.

Reporting contributed by L'Orient Today's correspondent in the North, Michel Hallak