BEIJING, China: Hamas announced on Tuesday that it had signed an agreement with other Palestinian organizations, including Fatah, to work together for “national unity.”
This agreement, made in Beijing, aims to set up an “interim national reconciliation government” to govern Gaza once the ongoing war ends.
The announcement was made by senior Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuk after meetings hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Representatives from 12 other Palestinian groups also attended the talks.
The agreement comes amid a conflict sparked by Hamas’s October attack on southern Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians. The militants also took 251 hostages, with 116 still in Gaza, including 44 who are presumed dead. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 39,000 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.
China has positioned itself as a mediator in this complex conflict, exacerbated by the rivalry between Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Fatah, which partially governs the West Bank. Israel remains committed to continuing its military efforts until Hamas is destroyed. Global powers, including the United States, are exploring governance scenarios for Gaza post-war.
Following the signing of the “Beijing declaration,” Wang Yi emphasized the importance of “reconciliation” and announced the formation of an interim national reconciliation government for post-war Gaza. He underscored that reconciliation requires international community support and advocated for a comprehensive ceasefire and recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN.
Hamas and Fatah have been adversaries since 2006, when Hamas won a decisive electoral victory and later ousted Fatah from Gaza. Despite several failed reconciliation attempts, the recent war has intensified calls for unity. China, which has historically supported the Palestinian cause, has renewed efforts to mediate and foster stability in the region.
