According to Alain Menargues , the direct perpetrators of the killings were the " Young Men " , a gang recruited by Elie Hobeika , a prominent figure in the Phalanges , the Lebanese Forces intelligence chief and liaison officer with Mossad , from men who had been expelled from the Lebanese Forces for insubordination or criminal activities . The killings are widely believed to have taken place under Hobeika 's direct orders . Hobeika 's family and fiancée had been murdered by Palestinian militiamen , and their Lebanese allies , at the Damour massacre of 1976 , itself a response to the 1976 Karantina massacre of Palestinians and Lebanese Muslims at the hands of Christian militants . Hobeika later became a long-serving Member of the Parliament of Lebanon and served in several ministerial roles . Other Phalangist commanders involved were Joseph Edde from South Lebanon , Dib Anasta , head of the Phalangist Military Police , Michael Zouein , and Maroun Mischalani from East Beirut . In all 300 – 400 militiamen were involved , including some from Sa'ad Haddad 's South Lebanon Army
Karantina massacre
Karantina massacre
Sabra and Shatila massacre