Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced on Tuesday that representatives from the two main Palestinian factions, the terrorist organization Hamas and Fatah, made progress during recent “unity talks” in Beijing. Lin stated that Hamas and Fatah participated in discussions on promoting Palestinian reconciliation at China’s invitation.
Both sides expressed their willingness to achieve reconciliation through dialogue and made encouraging progress. The talks were conducted discreetly, and Lin did not specify the exact timing of the dialogue. However, he emphasized that the Palestinian factions agreed to continue the dialogue process to achieve solidarity and unity.
Lin highlighted that the Palestinians appreciated China’s support for their legitimate rights and thanked the Chinese side for facilitating efforts to strengthen internal unity. The discussions in Beijing mirrored a previous summit in Moscow earlier this year, which aimed to develop a unified strategy against Israeli military operations but yielded limited results.
Fatah and Hamas have a history of ideological differences and power struggles, with Hamas using violence to remove Fatah from Gaza in 2007. Despite these challenges, the Chinese government seeks to promote reconciliation between the two factions to maintain its image as a global deal-maker and influential superpower.
The prospects of Fatah governing Gaza post-war remain uncertain until Hamas and Fatah resolve their differences. However, Arab and Palestinian officials believe that the Palestinian Authority may need to play a role in governing Gaza once the conflict ends. The Financial Times noted the complexities of the situation, stating that until Hamas and Fatah reach consensus, it is unclear how the Palestinian Authority can operate effectively in territories controlled by the militant group.
