Chongqing - A significant prelude to a unified Palestine unfolded on July 23 when 14 Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Fatah, held reconciliation talks in Beijing, China, and signed the Beijing Declaration on ending division and strengthening Palestinian national unity.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among Palestinian factions and witnesses the signing of a declaration on ending division and strengthening unity by 14 Palestinian factions in Beijing, the capital of China, on July 23, 2024. ( Photo /Xinhua News)

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi at the closing ceremony of the reconciliation talks, said that the core outcome is to specify that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the sole legitimate representative of all the Palestinian people. The most significant highlight is the agreement to form an interim national reconciliation government focused on the post-war governance of Gaza, and the strongest call is for the creation of a truly independent Palestinian state in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

How important are the talks and the Beijing Declaration for Palestine?

Palestine is quite divided among its factions, especially between Hamas and Fatah, who rule the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, respectively. Chen Guangmeng, executive director of the Academy of International and Regional Studies at Sichuan International Studies University, mentioned that Palestinian Legislative Council elections have not been held since 2006. The long-term rivalry among these factions has prevented Palestine from organizing a representative and united national government, which is also a significant reason why Palestine has not been able to establish a state.

Prof. Chen said that unity is a strength. Although previous agreements between Hamas and Fatah brokered by other countries have not been fully implemented, the Beijing Declaration aims to unite Palestine, allowing it to speak with one voice and become more forceful in dealing with Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is visiting the United States to seek further support from the US in the Gaza conflict. In Professor Chen's opinion, Palestine and Israel are respectively seeking help from China and the US, making it difficult to predict the future of the relationship between Palestine and Israel.

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