Lebanon Detains Former Palestinian Envoy Over Corruption Probe

Beirut– Lebanese authorities have detained former Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon Ashraf Dabbour on corruption charges after he arrived at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, judicial and security officials said on Wednesday.

Officials said Dabbour was arrested late Tuesday shortly after landing in Beirut and is being questioned by a judge at the prosecutor’s office in the Lebanese capital. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.According to the officials, the detention was carried out based on a Red Notice issued by Interpol late last year following accusations linked to financial misconduct.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas removed Dabbour from his post as ambassador to Lebanon in 2025 after the Palestinian Authority accused him of corruption.Officials said the case involves allegations that Dabbour was involved in the sale of property in Lebanon owned by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which maintained a major presence in the country before Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon forced its leadership to relocate.

The properties were reportedly linked to assets held by the PLO during its years of political and military operations from Lebanon.No public statement has been issued by Dabbour or his legal representatives regarding the allegations.

The case comes amid broader anti-corruption efforts within Palestinian institutions and renewed scrutiny over financial management tied to overseas diplomatic and political assets.