Israeli airstrikes kill at least 13 people in Gaza refugee camps as cease-fire talks grind on
CBSJUL 14 2024
Hamas, Fatah Agree to Form Unity Government in the Future
Above: Riyad al-Maliki, Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, speaks during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Feb. 13, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Image copyright: Omer Messinger/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Hamas and its primary rival Fatah, which runs the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, have signed a declaration in Beijing pledging to form a government together. The agreement doesn't include any guarantees or outline a timeline.
The talks, which began on Sunday, included 14 Palestinian factions. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that "an agreement has been reached on post-Gaza war governance and the establishment of a provisional national reconciliation government."
The agreement posits that Gaza will be under Palestinian control after the war. Hamas and Fatah have made several attempts at reconciliation since 2006, but all have failed. Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, said the war in Gaza has motivated the two sides to again work toward unity.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
This doomed-to-fail accord is just another sign that Hamas is on its knees. Indeed, this agreement is a lifeline for Hamas provided by China and Abbas, though it is unlikely to produce anything meaningful. China wants to strengthen its hand in the region by preventing Hamas' demise, and Abbas simply seeks to appease a potential ally in Beijing.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel's genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza has changed the calculus of the Palestinian factions. If Gaza and the West Bank are under one administration, it means that Israel can no longer say that it is unable to make peace. Palestinians must be united in the face of Israel's brutality if they are to improve their situation.