Hamas and Fatah Sign Beijing Declaration, Observer: No Drastic Developments Yet

JAKARTA - The signing of an agreement between Palestinian factions in Beijing, China, including Fatah and Hamas, will not be followed by drastic developments, considering the fundamental differences between the two largest factions, Middle East observers say.

As many as 14 Palestinian factions agreed to close ranks and forget their differences, signing what is known as the Beijing Declaration, after holding a meeting on July 21-23 in the Chinese capital.

"There will not be any dramatic developments because the concentration is still on the Gaza War," Middle East observer Faisal Assegaf told VOI, as quoted on July 24.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the agreement completed on Tuesday laid the foundation for an "interim national reconciliation government" to govern Gaza after the war, quoted from Al Jazeera.

Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI) Mustapha Barghouti, one of the 14 factions that signed the agreement, said the agreement was "much more advanced" than what was achieved in recent years.

He said the four main elements are the formation of an interim national unity government, the formation of a unified Palestinian leadership ahead of the upcoming general elections, the free election of a new Palestinian National Council, and a general declaration of unity in the face of ongoing Israeli attacks.

However, Faisal considered that it would still be difficult as long as Fatah was still compromising with Israel. Hamas and Fatah also have different principles. Hamas does not want to recognize Israel's existence, while Fatah does not.

"This difference in principle affects the concept of the two-state solution promoted by the international community as the only solution for an independent Palestine," Faisal explained.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "The core result is that the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) is the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinians," said the top Chinese diplomat, adding, "an agreement has been reached on the post-war governance of Gaza and the formation of an interim national reconciliation government."

"If Hamas joins the PLO, Israel will not want to recognize and cooperate," Faisal emphasized.

At a press conference Tuesday in Beijing, Hamas delegation representative Mousa Abu Marzook said they had reached an agreement to complete a "path of reconciliation," while also using the platform in Beijing to defend the group's Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

"We are at a historic crossroads. Our people are rising up in their struggle," Abu Marzook said, according to CNN.

Fatah, meanwhile, said the China deal would likely be implemented after a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

"The China deal is based on expanding the scope of membership in the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) to include other factions that have not joined," including Hamas, Fatah spokesman Jamal Nazzal said, according to AP.

"Still far ahead, and most of it will be implemented after a possible ceasefire," he added.

It is known that Fatah dominates the PLO and the PA (Palestinian Authority), the interim Palestinian government established in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after the 1993 agreement known as the Oslo Accords was signed. Hamas does not recognize Israel.

The PA held administrative control over Gaza until 2007, after Hamas won the 2006 legislative elections in the occupied territories and expelled it from the strip. Since then, Hamas has ruled Gaza and the PA has ruled parts of the West Bank.