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China to host new round of Hamas-Fatah talks but its influence ‘may be limited’
- Chinese foreign ministry promises details to follow after media reports of a planned July meeting, raising hopes of reconciliation
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Plans for a new round of talks in Beijing later this month between rival Palestinian factions have raised hopes of reconciliation and agreement about post-war governance in Gaza, but China’s influence over the outcome may be limited, observers said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday that China would release details of the Hamas-Fatah meeting “in due course”.
He was responding to several Western media reports a day earlier that delegations – led by Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, and Fatah deputy head Mahmoud al-Aloul – could be in Beijing by next weekend.
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The New York Times reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet the Palestinian factions on Sunday, July 21 and again on Tuesday.
The Washington Post noted that the meeting follows an agreement between Israel and Hamas – after sporadic talks – that control of Gaza would be handed over to a new Palestinian force in the event of a ceasefire.
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This will be the second meeting in the Chinese capital for senior officials from Hamas and Fatah, after talks in April covered political reconciliation and potential post-war governance, according to Beijing.
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