Leaders of rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas have signed a declaration to end years of division.
The said they would form a unity government with other factions after talks hosted by China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, in Beijing.
The groups signed an agreement on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity,” said Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The announcement came after talks involving 14 Palestinian factions started on Sunday in China‘s capital.
It’s the latest move to revive efforts to form a government for the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Tensions have been rising between Fatah and Hamas over the latter’s continued war with Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, has previously criticised the Islamist group for the war, while Hamas has accused Abbas of taking Israel’s side.
The two factions have been at odds since Hamas won elections in 2006 and took over the Gaza Strip following a brief war in which it routed the Western-backed Palestinian forces loyal to Mr Abbas.
Efforts by Arab countries, led by Egypt, have failed to end power-sharing disputes between Hamas, which runs Gaza, and Fatah – which makes the backbone of the Palestinian Authority.
Previous talks have failed due to their own power struggle and the West’s refusal to accept any government including Hamas unless the group – designated a terrorist entity by the UK and US – recognises Israel.
China’s relations with the Palestinians stretch back to the 1960s when it provided food, weapons, training and support to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
More recently China has developed significant financial interests in the Middle East, but hosting the talks is a sign it’s trying to increase its diplomatic clout in the region at a time when its relationship with Israel – with whom it has economic interests – is strained over the Gaza conflict.
