Meeting in the Chinese capital July 23, senior leaders from Fatah and Hamas as well as 12 other Palestinian factions signed a joint document called the “Beijing Declaration to End the Division & Strengthen Palestinian National Unity.” A statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the meeting reads: “The most important consensus from the Beijing talks is to achieve reconciliation and unity among the 14 factions; the core outcome is the affirmation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinian people; the biggest highlight is the agreement on establishing an interim government of national reconciliation focusing on the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza; and the strongest call is for truly establishing an independent State of Palestine in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the event as an “historic moment for the cause of Palestine’s liberation.” While asserting that “‘Palestinians governing Palestine’ is the basic principle for the post-conflict governance of Gaza,” Wang called for an international peace conference to advance a two-state solution.
The rivalry between Fatah and Hamas intensified after Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, leading to a power struggle with Fatah. This conflict culminated in violent clashes in 2007, resulting in Hamas taking control of the Gaza Strip while Fatah retained authority in the West Bank. The split has led to separate governance structures and ongoing disputes over political legitimacy and control of Palestinian territories.
Hamas is considered a “terrorist organization” by the US and EU, but not so by China, which brokered the new agreement. Israel quickly rejected the agreement, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz saying that Hamas’ rule in Gaza “will be crushed.” He added that Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas “will be watching Gaza from afar. Israel’s security will remain solely in Israel’s hands.” (Jurist, DW, BBC News, CNN)
Photo: PRC MFA
