United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed a reconciliation accord brokered by China, aimed at uniting Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
“I think all steps towards unity are to be welcomed and encouraged,” said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Guterres “very much welcomes the signing of the Beijing Declaration by the Palestinian factions.”
On Tuesday, Hamas announced it had signed the agreement in Beijing with other Palestinian organizations, including rivals Fatah, to work together for “national unity.”
Hamas and Fatah, long-term rivals, fought a brief but bloody war in 2007, resulting in Hamas seizing control of Gaza. Fatah continues to dominate the Palestinian Authority, which has limited administrative control over urban areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel quickly condemned the Beijing-brokered deal, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz stating that “Hamas rule will be crushed” and accusing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a leader of Fatah, of aligning with the group resisting Israeli occupation.
