RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, have signed a declaration in Beijing seeking to resolve their longstanding discord, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday. This marks a fresh effort to bridge the divide between the groups as the war in Gaza continues to escalate.

The agreement emerged after a series of discussions aimed at promoting unity. However, past efforts have consistently fallen short, leading to skepticism regarding whether these China-mediated negotiations will yield any meaningful outcome. Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas are deliberating on an internationally-supported cease-fire initiative, which, if successful, could bring an end to the nine-month war and secure the release of several Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Yet, even if a cease-fire is brokered, the future of Gaza remains uncertain, with Israel strongly opposing any involvement of Hamas in the territory's governance post-conflict.

During the ongoing war in Gaza, Hamas has publicly stated that it has no plans to reinstate its previous rule over the region. Instead, the group has advocated for the establishment of a technocratic government, composed of representatives from various Palestinian factions. This interim government would oversee preparations for nationwide elections in both Gaza and the West Bank, with the ultimate aim of forming a unified Palestinian government.

The Beijing Declaration, which commits to “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity,” was signed by both factions, according to China’s state-run broadcaster, CCTV.

The talks, which also included 12 other Palestinian political factions, were facilitated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The discussions began on Sunday and concluded with the signing of the agreement, as reported by the Chinese television network CGTN on the social media platform Weibo.

Though a joint communiqué was released following the talks, it provided little clarity regarding the timeline or structure of any unified government, stating only that any such government would be formed “through consensus among the factions.”

Fatah and Hamas have been at odds since 2007, when Hamas violently ousted Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, taking control of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority, which is led by Fatah and governs parts of the West Bank, has been widely criticized by Palestinians for being corrupt, disconnected, and cooperating too closely with Israel due to their shared security arrangements.

Despite numerous attempts to reconcile, past efforts have consistently faltered due to deep-seated rivalries and Western nations' refusal to recognize any government that includes Hamas unless it formally acknowledges Israel’s right to exist.

The Biden administration has proposed reforms that would empower the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza in the aftermath of the war. These changes, it believes, could make the authority a capable governing body in the region. However, Israel has dismissed this proposal, though it has yet to offer any viable alternative for Gaza’s future leadership.

In response to the talks, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group aligned with Hamas, released a statement on Tuesday reiterating its stance. The group insisted that it “rejects any solution that involves recognizing Israel, either directly or indirectly,” and called for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to withdraw its recognition of Israel.

___

Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel; Wu reported from Bangkok.