Various Palestinian factions, including those led by Hamas and Fatah, have agreed to disband their internal divisions and establish a unified government during recent negotiations in China.
The agreement was formalized at the end of a reconciliation dialogue held from July 21-23 in Beijing, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
A senior official from Hamas emphasized that establishing a national unity government to oversee Palestinian governance was the central aim of the negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed opposition to any role for Hamas in future administrative structures within Gaza, following potential conflicts.
The meeting included 14 Palestinian factions and their leaders, with China's foreign minister Wang Yi present as reported by CGTN on social media.
This accord represents a diplomatic achievement for Beijing amidst its increasing influence in Middle Eastern geopolitics—a trend seen following the peace initiative between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year.
Hamas leader Husam Badran commended China's efforts to host these dialogues, stating that such unity is crucial at a time when Palestinians are enduring conflicts, particularly in Gaza.
Badran highlighted the importance of creating a unified government for managing affairs within Palestine and overseeing post-conflict reconstruction efforts. This approach aligns with Hamas' longstanding proposal since the beginning of hostilities.
The formation of this national unity government serves as a stance against external attempts to dictate Palestinian governance following conflicts in the region, according to Badran.
Initial talks between Hamas and Fatah took place in April in Beijing, marking their first known meeting since the Gaza conflict began—a significant development given previous disagreements that led to a short war in 2007.
Read next
Over 1 million people gather in Madrid for outdoor mass with Pope Leo
Over one million people gathered in Madrid for an open-air mass led by Pope Leo. During the service, the American pontiff highlighted the contradiction between Christian principles and far-right ideology, stating, “No one can kneel before the Lord and despise their brother.”
Crowds began forming hours before dawn on Sunday
Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang to strengthen China-North Korea relations
Xi Jinping has begun a two-day visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years as he seeks to strengthen relations with the ally.
Footage from the Xinhua state news agency showed the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arriving at Sunan international
Denmark's mullet championship celebrates the 'beautifully ugly' and divisive hairstyle
Copenhagen recently hosted the 2026 Mullet Championship, where more than 1,000 spectators gathered on an outdoor stage to celebrate the enduring hairstyle characterized by short hair in the front and length in the back.
Twelve participants competed in the event, which was organized by 37-year-old electrician Steffen Stiw Weber.