The Palestine Liberation Organization says it won't be drawn into military action in an embattled Palestinian refugee camp in Syria that has been overrun by Islamic State (ISIS) extremists.
The statement late Thursday contradicted assertions made earlier in the day by a PLO emissary to Damascus, Ahmad Majdalani. He said that Palestinian groups are ready to join forces with the Syrian government to expel ISIS fighters from the camp.
The PLO called for nonmilitary means to "spare the blood of our people" and said that "we refuse to be drawn into any armed campaign."
ISIS seized much of the Yarmouk camp on the edge of Damascus last week, establishing a foothold in the Syrian capital for the first time. About 18,000 people are left in Yarmouk, following a two-year government siege.
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