Palestinian factions have signed a “national unity” agreement aimed at maintaining Palestinian control over Gaza once Israel’s war on the enclave ends.
The deal, concluded in China on Tuesday after three days of intense negotiations, lays the groundwork for an “interim government of national reconciliation” to govern post-war Gaza, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. The agreement was signed by long-time rivals Hamas and Fatah, as well as 12 other Palestinian groups.
“Today we signed a national unity agreement and we say that the path to complete this journey is national unity,” senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk said at a news conference in Beijing.
Blocking Israeli control over Gaza
Mustapha Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, one of the 14 factions that signed the deal, told Al Jazeera that the agreement goes “far beyond” any other reached in recent years.
He said its four main elements are the establishment of an interim national unity government, the formation of a unified Palestinian leadership ahead of future elections, the free election of a new Palestinian National Council and a general declaration of unity in the face of continued Israeli attacks.
The move toward a unity government is especially important, he said, because it “blocks Israeli efforts to create some kind of collaborative structure against Palestinian interests.”
Reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah would be a key turning point in internal Palestinian relations. The two main Palestinian political parties in the Palestinian territories have been bitter rivals since conflict erupted in 2006, after which Hamas took control of Gaza.
'No other way'
“We are at a historic moment,” Abu Marzouk said, according to CNN. “Our people are rising up in their struggle.”
Hamas, which led the October 7 attack on Israel, advocates armed resistance against the Israeli occupation.
Fatah controls the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative control of the occupied West Bank and favors peaceful negotiations toward a Palestinian state.
Several attempts at reconciliation between the two factions have failed in the past, but calls for them to unite have grown as the war drags on and Israel and its allies, including the United States, have debated who might rule the enclave once the fighting ends.
Barghouti said the war in Gaza was the “main factor” motivating the Palestinian sides to put aside their differences.
“There is no other way now than for the Palestinians to unite and fight together against this terrible injustice,” he said.
“The most important thing now is not just to sign the agreement, but to implement it.”
'Looking from afar'
Israel vehemently opposes any Hamas role in governing Gaza and has suggested, in the face of opposition even from Washington, that it intends to maintain control of the enclave.
That is why Tel Aviv was quick to criticise the announced agreement.
Criticizing Fatah chief and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for cooperating with Hamas, Foreign Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed his government's stance that no one but Israel will control Gaza after the end of hostilities.
Hamas and Fatah signed an agreement in China for joint control of Gaza after the war. Instead of rejecting terrorism, Mahmoud Abbas embraces Hamas' murderers and rapists, revealing his true face. In reality, this will not happen because the Hamas government will be crushed and Abbas will be forced to leave Gaza. image.twitter.com/JZMqeMqH5J
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) July 23, 2024
“Instead of rejecting terrorism, Mahmoud Abbas embraces Hamas’ murderers and rapists, revealing his true face,” Katz said in X. “In reality, this will not happen because the Hamas government will be crushed and Abbas will be watching Gaza from afar. Israel’s security will remain solely in Israel’s hands.”
'Internal affair'
China, which has tried to play a mediating role in the conflict, already hosted Fatah and Hamas in April.
During those talks, both sides “expressed their political will to achieve reconciliation through dialogue and consultation” and made progress on “many specific issues,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at the time.
The latest round of talks involved Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Fatah deputy leader Mahmoud al-Aloul.
After signing the so-called “Beijing Declaration,” Wang said: “Reconciliation is an internal matter of the Palestinian factions, but at the same time, it cannot be achieved without the support of the international community.”
China has historically been sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and in favor of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an “international peace conference” to end the war.
