China adds new hope to end Palestinian division

Editor's note: Wang Jin, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinion and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The relationship between Fatah and Hamas, as the two main political factions in Palestine, largely affects the development of the Palestinian question and the direction of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

The meeting between Fatah and Hamas in Beijing, led by important figures from both sides, added new hope for not only the internal unity of Palestinians but also for seeking peaceful opportunities between Israelis and Palestinians. The Fatah delegation to Beijing is led by Azzam al-Ahmad, who is its Central Committee member as well as the Executive Committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, while the Hamas delegation is led by Moussa Abu Marzouk, who is the deputy head of the Political Bureau.

Since the Palestinian factional conflict of 2007, the West Bank, ruled by Fatah, and the Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas, have been de facto divided. The division has prevented the Palestinians from taking a unified position, forming a unified government and speaking with one voice in the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and dialogue. Since the outbreak of the new Palestinian-Israeli conflict in 2023, the Gaza Strip has faced an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis, and there have been growing calls from the Palestinian public and the international community for an end to Palestinian factionalism and to enhance sectarian reconciliation.

Both Fatah and Hamas have recently expressed a desire to end factionalism. On the one hand, the Fatah-dominated Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which just changed its prime minister in February 2024, has shown its determination to establish a more inclusive government. On the other hand, Hamas has also recently shifted its position, with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh expressing a related important change in position during his visit to Türkiye and adding new hope for a possible Palestinian factional reconciliation.

During his recent visit to Türkiye, Haniya expressed a three-pronged shift in Hamas' position. Namely, Hamas' willingness to join in a Fatah-dominated political structure, Hamas' willingness to give up armed organizations, and Hamas' willingness to accept a ceasefire and suspend its dominant status in the Gaza Strip. The three major concessions mean that the relationship between Fatah and Hamas could see a breakthrough.

China's peace influence in the Middle East has grown in recent years, especially since it successfully brokered a March 2023 agreement to restore diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Since the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and expressed support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution. China's advocacy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue has gained wide approval and support from the international community, including Middle Eastern countries.

Last month, Chinese senior diplomat Wang Kejian embarked on a regional tour that took him through Egypt, Israel and the West Bank. During his visit to Qatar, Wang met with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau, in the first public meeting between Chinese and Palestinian movement officials since the war began in October.

It should be noted that, while there is hope for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, this does not mean that factionalism will end immediately. In fact, both Fatah and Hamas are facing greater resistance to reconciliation internally, while how to build mutual trust between the two factions after more than a decade of conflict is a greater challenge. However, the Fatah-Hamas talks in Beijing under China's good offices will be an important starting point for ending Palestinians' internal strife, and China is willing to continue to contribute to a lasting and just solution to the Palestinian issue.