By BEIJING, China – Palestinian factions, including rivals Hamas and Fatah, have agreed to end their divisions and form an interim national unity government during negotiations in China. The talks, which concluded on Tuesday, resulted in the signing of the Beijing Declaration, according to China’s foreign ministry.
The declaration was signed during the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among 14 Palestinian factions held in Beijing from July 21-23. This dialogue marks a significant step after previous reconciliation efforts by Egypt and other Arab countries had failed to end the 17-year power-sharing conflict that has weakened Palestinian political aspirations.
The meeting also addressed attempts by international mediators to reach a ceasefire deal for Gaza. One of the primary sticking points remains the “day-after” plan—how the Hamas-run enclave will be governed once the ongoing war, which began on October 7, concludes.
Senior Hamas official Hossam Badran emphasized the importance of the Beijing Declaration in forming a Palestinian national unity government to manage Palestinian affairs. “The Declaration stands as a formidable barrier against all regional and international interventions that seek to impose realities against our people’s interests in managing Palestinian affairs post-war,” Badran stated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his goal of destroying the capabilities of Hamas and opposing its role in any post-war Gaza government. This will be a red line for Israel, and we will continue to ensure that Hamas does not play any role in the future governance of Gaza,” Netanyahu said.
Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly embraced the reconciliation efforts of Hamas, revealing his support for a unified Palestinian government. However, Fatah officials have not yet commented publicly on the specifics of the Beijing Declaration or their stance on the future governance of Gaza alongside Hamas.
Credit: Reuters
