On Tuesday, July 23, China's Foreign Ministry announced that representatives of Palestinian political factions Fatah and Hamas signed a joint statement in Beijing aimed at "ending differences and building Palestinian unity."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that after three days of meetings in Beijing, an agreement was reached and signed by representatives of 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas. The "Beijing Declaration" was signed with the participation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Fatah was represented by Mahmoud al-Aloul, deputy chairman of the party's central committee, and Hamas by deputy politburo member Musa Abu Marzouq.
Chinese media have highlighted Beijing's growing role in the Middle East. In 2023, China acted as a mediator in easing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, achieving success where Washington had not. Now, Beijing has achieved what Moscow could not—securing a reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas. Many expect China to eventually mediate peace with the Yemeni Houthis.
The agreement includes plans to create a "government of national unity" within the Palestinian Authority. Since the military coup by Hamas in Gaza in 2007, the Palestinian Authority has been governed by Fatah, while Gaza has been under Hamas control. After nine months of war, which Israel launched following a terrorist attack from Gaza on October 7, 2023, the Gaza Strip remains largely destroyed and controlled only by the IDF.
