Israel-Gaza war: China’s foreign ministry says Hamas and Fatah commit to dialogue after Beijing meeting
- Rival Palestinian parties met in Beijing for an ‘in-depth and candid dialogue on promoting internal reconciliation’, according to ministry spokesman
- Talks showcase China’s efforts to promote reconciliation for Palestine and accompany Beijing’s support for its full UN membership and call for ceasefire
Hamas and Fatah have agreed to continue dialogue in an effort to end their internal division after attending talks in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
“[Fatah and Hamas held an] in-depth and candid dialogue on promoting internal reconciliation in Palestine. The two sides fully expressed their political will to achieve reconciliation through dialogue and consultation, discussed many specific issues and made positive progress,” ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
“They agreed to continue this dialogue process and strive for the early realisation of Palestinian unity and reunification.
“Both sides highly appreciated China’s firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, thanked China for its efforts in promoting Palestine’s strengthening of internal unity, and reached agreement for ideas on future dialogues.”
The talks underscored China’s renewed efforts to promote reconciliation for Palestine, which has been divided since the Fatah-Hamas war in 2007. Fatah runs the Palestinian Authority, the Western-backed government body that partially controls the Israel-occupied West Bank. Hamas – which has long had strained relations with Fatah – controls the Gaza Strip.