BHIJING: In a significant development, Hamas announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with various Palestinian factions, including Fatah, to pursue “national unity.” The agreement, brokered in Beijing, aims to establish an “interim national reconciliation government” to oversee Gaza after the current conflict ends.
The announcement was made by senior Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuk following meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Representatives from 12 other Palestinian groups also participated in these talks.
This agreement emerges against the backdrop of a severe conflict in Gaza after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October which triggered occupied forces to impose war which have claimed over 39,000 lives in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
China has positioned itself as a mediator in the ongoing conflict between Hamas, which governs Gaza, and Fatah, which administers parts of the West Bank. The Israeli government remains determined to continue its military campaign until Hamas is defeated. Meanwhile, global powers, including the United States, are considering governance options for Gaza following the war.
Following the “Beijing declaration,” Wang Yi highlighted the necessity of “reconciliation” and announced the creation of an interim national reconciliation government for Gaza post-war. He stressed that reconciliation will require international support and called for a comprehensive ceasefire and the recognition of a Palestinian state by the UN.
Hamas and Fatah have been in conflict since 2006, when Hamas won a decisive electoral victory and subsequently displaced Fatah from Gaza. Despite several attempts at reconciliation, the recent war has heightened the push for unity.
China, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, is intensifying its mediation efforts to bring stability to the region.
