Hamas and Fatah sign deal to end years-long rift after talks in China

Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have signed a declaration in Beijing ending a years-long rift, Chinese state media said.

The declaration by the two heavyweights of Palestinian politics — and other smaller Palestinian groups — to form a unity government for the Palestinian territories is the result of the latest in a series of talks meant to unite the sides.

But previous declarations have failed, including a similar deal in 2011, casting doubt over whether the China-sponsored negotiations might actually lead to a resolution. It also comes as Israel and Hamas are weighing an internationally backed ceasefire proposal that would wind down the nine-month war and free dozens of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Still, the future of Gaza is undecided, with Israel vehemently opposed to any role by Hamas in governing Gaza. It has also rejected calls from the United States for the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority to run Gaza after the war ends.

The lack of a post-war vision for running the Gaza Strip has complicated ceasefire negotiations.

Since the current war broke out in Gaza almost 10 months ago, Hamas officials have said that the party does not want to return to ruling Gaza as it did before the conflict.

The group has called for the formation of a government of technocrats to be agreed upon by the various Palestinian factions, which would prepare the way for elections for both Gaza and the West Bank, with the intention of forming a unified government.

Hamas and Fatah signed the Beijing Declaration on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, swiftly rejected the agreement on Tuesday, stating that no joint governance between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza will take place “because Hamas’s rule will be crushed”.

The two rival Palestinian groups, along with 12 other political factions, met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Tuesday, concluding talks that started on Sunday.

A joint statement issued after the most recent talks in Beijing gave no details on how or when the government would be formed, saying only that it would be done “by agreement among the factions”.

According to the joint statement, the two groups are committed to the creation of a Palestinian state on lands Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war.

While the groups have said they would work together many times before and failed, the signing of the declaration coincides with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears within sight.

Hamas routed Fatah forces in Gaza in a violent takeover of the territory in 2007.

Unity efforts have been wrecked by the factions’ own bitter rivalry over power and the West’s refusal to accept any government that includes Hamas unless it expressly recognises Israel.