Hamas and Fatah Reach Reconciliation Agreement in Beijing, Agree to Form Unity Government for Post-War Governance of Gaza (AI Translation)

哈马斯同法塔赫在北京达成和解协议 同意围绕加沙战后治理组建联合政府

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's U.S. visit coincides with renewed ceasefire talks in Gaza. Fatah and Hamas, the two major Palestinian factions, signed the "Beijing Declaration" in China, signaling their commitment to internal reconciliation. The agreement emphasizes ending divisions and achieving unity among Palestinian factions [para. 1].

The reconciliation dialogue in Beijing from July 21 to July 23 included representatives from 14 Palestinian factions. This resulted in the "Beijing Declaration," aiming to end internal political disputes and strengthen unity [para. 2]. Earlier reconciliation attempts in April mediated by China led to a deep dialogue, but the second round was postponed until July 23, when a reconciliation agreement was finally reached [para. 3].

Prior to the reconciliation talks, Fatah and Hamas expressed openness to unity. Fatah governs the West Bank, while Hamas controls Gaza [para. 2]. Historical conflicts between them trace back to the 2006 elections, with a violent power struggle in 2007 leading to separate governance [para. 6]. The ongoing struggle includes divergent political positions: Fatah's moderate stance advocating negotiations with Israel and Hamas' radical ideology rejecting Israel and adhering to armed struggle [para. 7].

Past reconciliation attempts mediated by Arab nations have failed due to political and security disagreements [para. 8]. Recent violence saw Hamas attacking Israeli towns on October 7, 2023, leading to significant casualties [para. 9]. Mustafa Barghouti noted that Gaza's war prompted factions to unite [para. 11]. The latest reconciliation agreement aims to establish a temporary national unity government, form a unified Palestinian leadership, and hold new elections [para. 12].

The "Beijing Declaration" underscores China’s support for Palestinian rights and calls for an international conference under the UN’s auspices. Key points include forming a consensus-based interim government, Gaza reconstruction, and general elections [para. 14]. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning highlighted China's role and the agreement to unify under the PLO’s framework [para. 15]. Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, emphasized reconciliation as significant for Palestinian unity [para. 16]. He proposed a "three-step approach" to resolve the Gaza crisis, focusing on a sustainable ceasefire, Palestinian self-governance post-war, and promoting Palestine’s full UN membership [para. 17].

Fatah and Hamas representatives praised China's support and commitment to fairness in the reconciliation process and pledged to implement the agreed terms [para. 21].

The reconciliation is critical amid ongoing Hamas-Israel negotiations. Significant progress in the ceasefire talks includes Hamas' new proposal that drops the demand for a permanent ceasefire and negotiates hostages for peace while rejecting Gaza bypassing Palestinians [para. 22]. Israel set strict conditions for any ceasefire, continuing their military offensive in Gaza [para. 25]. Israeli forces expanded evacuation orders and assaults, further complicating the ceasefire talks [para. 27]. Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. aims to gain support for Israel's negotiation terms [para. 28].

Despite significant progress, the ceasefire talks face challenges with differing stances on Gaza's post-war governance. The U.S. supports Palestinian Authority governance, while Netanyahu’s administration opposes Palestinian statehood [para. 32]. In contrast, a recent U.N. General Assembly resolution allowed Palestine to join the U.N. as a full member [para. 35].