Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah sign unity deal brokered by China

Palestinian factions have signed a “national unity” agreement aimed at maintaining Palestinian control over Gaza once Israel’s war on the enclave concludes.

The deal, penned on Tuesday in China after three days of intensive talks, lays the groundwork for an “interim national reconciliation government” to rule post-war Gaza, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The agreement was signed by long-term rivals Hamas and Fatah, as well as 12 other Palestinian groups.

Reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah would be a key turning point in internal Palestinian relations. The two main Palestinian political parties in the Palestinian territories have been bitter rivals since conflict arose in 2006, after which Hamas seized control of Gaza.

“We’re at a historic junction,” Abu Marzouk said according to CNN. “Our people are rising up in their efforts to struggle.”

Hamas, which rules Gaza and led the October 7 attack on Israel, advocates for armed resistance against Israel’s occupation.

Fatah controls the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative control of the occupied West Bank. It favours peaceful negotiations in pursuit of a Palestinian state.

Several past reconciliation bids between the two factions have failed. However, calls have grown for them to come together as the war has dragged on and Israel and its allies, including the United States, have discussed who could govern the enclave after the fighting ends.