According to Chinese state media, the Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have signed a declaration in Beijing aimed at ending their longstanding division.
The “Beijing Declaration” focuses on promoting unity among Palestinians.
This agreement occurs alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be imminent.
Despite previous attempts at unity that failed due to internal conflicts and international objections, the latest discussions were part of a meeting that included 12 other political groups and was facilitated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The talks began on Sunday and included discussions on resolving the factions’ historical rivalry and the challenges posed by international recognition standards.
Efforts by Arab countries, led by Egypt, failed to end power-sharing disputes between Hamas, which runs Gaza, and Fatah – which makes the backbone of the Palestinian Authority.
Previous talks did not work due to their power struggle and the West’s refusal to accept any government including Hamas unless the group recognises Israel.
China’s relations with the Palestinians stretch back to the 1960s when it provided food, weapons, training and support to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might postpone Gaza ceasefire talks with Hamas until after the US presidential election in November.
Netanyahu reportedly believes the US stance on the Gaza conflict could shift following the election.
The diplomat suggested that Netanyahu seeks to delay the negotiations, possibly to placate far-right government members, or because he perceives Hamas as currently weakened.
Additionally, Netanyahu might anticipate less pressure from the current US administration to cease hostilities in Gaza after the election.
