BEIJING/CAIRO, July 23 – Palestinian factions, including rivals Hamas and Fatah, have agreed to form an interim national unity government following negotiations in China. The Beijing Declaration, signed on Tuesday, concludes a reconciliation dialogue held from July 21-23, according to China’s foreign ministry.
This agreement aims to end 17 years of division that have weakened Palestinian political aspirations. Previous efforts by Egypt and other Arab countries to reconcile Hamas and Fatah have failed. The new deal faces the challenge of surviving real-world implementation.
The meeting comes amid international attempts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, which has been embroiled in conflict since October 7. A significant issue under discussion has been the governance of Gaza post-conflict. Senior Hamas official Hussam Badran emphasized the importance of forming a Palestinian national unity government to manage Palestinian affairs.
“This creates 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 said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes any role for Hamas in Gaza’s post-war administration, asserting that Israel’s security will remain under its control. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, accusing him of aligning with Hamas.
The national unity government aims to manage Palestinian affairs in Gaza and the West Bank, oversee reconstruction, and prepare for elections. Currently, Hamas governs Gaza, while Fatah forms the backbone of the Palestinian Authority, which has limited control in the West Bank. Fatah has not yet commented on the agreement.
The deal does not specify a timeframe for forming the new government. Earlier this year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Mohammad Mustafa to lead a new government.
This agreement is a diplomatic success for Beijing, showcasing its growing influence in the Middle East. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and expressed hope for Palestinian independence through internal reconciliation.
Wang highlighted the formation of an interim national reconciliation government for Gaza’s post-war governance as a key achievement and urged international support for these efforts. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, not members of the PLO, demand that any unity deal include elections for the PLO parliament to ensure their inclusion.
“This declaration comes at an important time as our people are facing a genocidal war, especially in the Gaza Strip,” Badran stated.
Rival factions Hamas and Fatah first met in Beijing in April to discuss reconciliation, marking the first time a Hamas delegation publicly visited China since the Gaza conflict began. The second round of talks was delayed as both factions traded blame.
Previous efforts to reconcile the feuding factions have failed since Hamas expelled Fatah from Gaza in 2007. In recent months, Chinese officials have increased their advocacy for the Palestinians, calling for a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace conference and a specific timetable to implement a two-state solution.
