China announced on Tuesday that Palestinian rival groups Hamas and Fatah engaged in significant discussions in Beijing aimed at fostering intra-Palestinian reconciliation.
Spokesperson Lin Jian from the foreign ministry revealed that representatives from the groups, formally known as the Palestine National Liberation Movement and the Islamic Resistance Movement, convened in Beijing.
They exhibited strong political determination to pursue reconciliation through dialogue and consultations, addressing various specific matters and making noteworthy progress. However, the exact timing of the meeting was not disclosed.
After a violent confrontation in 2007 that led to Hamas taking control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah, which retains some administrative authority in the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, the two groups have maintained a strained relationship.
China, historically an advocate for the Palestinian cause and a proponent of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has been urging an immediate ceasefire since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war last October.
During this conflict, around 1,170 individuals in Israel, mostly civilians, lost their lives due to attacks by Hamas, according to an AFP report based on Israeli official data.
In response, Israel’s offensive resulted in the deaths of at least 34,535 people in the Gaza Strip, predominantly women and children, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled region on Tuesday.
The Chinese government highlighted that both factions have committed to further dialogues to achieve Palestinian unity promptly. Lin Jian emphasized the groups’ appreciation for China’s steadfast backing of the Palestinian people’s rightful quest to regain their national rights, without disclosing the identities of the Hamas and Fatah representatives involved in the Beijing talks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has advocated for an “international peace conference” to alleviate the ongoing conflict. In November, China hosted diplomats from Arab and predominantly Muslim nations, during which Foreign Minister Wang Yi raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
