Hamas announces 'national unity' deal, signs declaration with Fatah

Beijing: Hamas announced Tuesday it had signed an agreement in Beijing with other Palestinian organisations including Fatah to work together for "national unity", with China describing it as a deal to rule Gaza together once the war ends.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who hosted senior Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuk, Fatah envoy Mahmud al-Aloul and emissaries from 12 other Palestinian groups, said they had agreed to set up an "interim national reconciliation government" to govern post-war Gaza.

"Today we sign an agreement for national unity and we say that the path to completing this journey is national unity. We are committed to national unity and we call for it," Abu Marzuk said after meeting Wang and the other envoys.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) poses for a group picture with members of the Palestinian factions during the signing of the "Beijing declaration" at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 23, 2024. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP)

The announcement comes more than nine months into a war in Gaza that killed over 39,000 people, also mostly civilians.

The relentless fighting has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis.

As Tuesday's meeting wrapped up in Beijing, Wang said the groups had committed to "reconciliation".

"The most prominent highlight is the agreement to form an interim national reconciliation government around the governance of post-war Gaza," Wang said after the factions signed the "Beijing declaration" in the Chinese capital.

"Reconciliation is an internal matter for the Palestinian factions, but at the same time, it cannot be achieved without the support of the international community," Wang said.

Fatah official Mahmoud al-Aloul thanked China for its "unending support" for the Palestinian cause.

"To China, you have our love, you have all our friendship, from all the Palestinian people," he said.