The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed that representatives of the terrorist group Hamas and the Fatah movement recently held talks in Beijing to discuss Palestinian reconciliation. According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, both sides expressed their political will to achieve reconciliation through dialogue and consultations and explored specific issues. The negotiations resulted in positive progress and an agreement to continue the dialogue process with the aim of realizing the unity of the Palestinian people as quickly as possible.
The Arab media reported that China had invited the delegations for the meeting, which took place last weekend. This meeting was a follow-up to a previous one in Moscow in March, where both factions agreed to continue their dialogue to achieve national unity within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently changed his government as part of efforts to reform it and establish control in Gaza after the conflict ends.
China has previously acted as a mediator in conflicts in the region, such as facilitating an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic relations. Hamas and Fatah have been divided since 2007 when Hamas expelled Fatah from Gaza after winning elections there. Fatah currently administers the West Bank. This ongoing mediation effort by China reflects a broader diplomatic push to support Palestinian unity and reconciliation.