Palestinian Factions Agree to Unite Under PLO After War
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Leaders from Hamas, Fatah and 12 other Palestinian factions signed a China-brokered agreement on Tuesday to form an interim unity government for the Palestinian territories after the war in Gaza ends.
For Context: Fatah largely controls the Palestinian Authority, which has limited administrative control of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas controlled Gaza, at least until the current war began. The two have long been rivals, making their cooperation a significant step towards post-war stability. However, the Israeli government strongly opposes any post-war role for Hamas in Gaza; Israeli foreign affairs minister Israel Katz accused Palestinian Authority and Fatah co-founder Mahmoud Abbas of embracing “the murderers and rapists of Hamas.” The move also marks a foreign policy win for China, which has sought to position itself as an alternative to U.S. global leadership.
The Details: The “core outcome” of the agreement, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, was that “the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) is the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinian people.” While the declaration calls for the formation of a unity government overseeing the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip and eventually holding elections, it does not set a timeframe for forming the new government.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was common but not always prominently featured, sometimes displaying the usual divides on Israel and Palestine. However, sources across the spectrum cited experts who were skeptical of the deal, noting that previous unity efforts had failed.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Hamas and Fatah sign unity deal in Beijing aimed at Gaza governancePalestinian factions have signed a “national unity” agreement aimed at maintaining Palestinian control over Gaza once Israel’s war on the enclave concludes.
The deal, finalised on Tuesday in China after three days of intensive talks, lays the groundwork for an “interim national reconciliation government” to rule post-war Gaza, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The agreement was signed by long-term rivals Hamas and Fatah, as well as 12 other Palestinian groups.
“Today we sign an agreement for national unity and we say that the path to completing this journey is...
From the Right
Palestinian factions sign 'Beijing Declaration,' agree to form unity government after talks in ChinaOpposing Palestinian factions agreed to form an interim national unity government during negotiations in China that ended on Tuesday with the signing of the Beijing Declaration, China's foreign ministry said.
Previous efforts to reconcile rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have failed to do so. The Beijing Declaration has yet to be tested on the ground.
The agreement displays China's growing influence in the Middle East. Last year, it brokered a breakthrough peace deal between longstanding regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Palestinian factions including rivals Hamas and Fatah agreed...
From the Center
China brokers Palestinian unity deal, but doubts persistPalestinian rivals including Hamas and Fatah agreed to form a unity government at talks hosted by China, Beijing said on Tuesday, a deal meant to deliver a post-war Gaza administration but quickly rejected by Israel as it seeks to crush Hamas.
Analysts said the agreement would prove hard to implement, with complications including the deep enmity between Palestinian factions and Western opposition to Hamas having any role in governance. No timetable was declared for implementation.
The Beijing Declaration was signed at the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among 14...
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