27-4-2024 (BEIJING) In a notable diplomatic move, Beijing has stepped onto the international stage by hosting crucial unity talks between the rival Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah, amidst the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The two groups, along with a Beijing-based diplomat, have confirmed that the talks will take place in the Chinese capital.
This development marks a significant foray by China into Palestinian diplomacy, as the country seeks to exert its growing influence in the Middle East region. The talks come at a critical juncture, with the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, engaged in a bitter conflict with Israel, which has vowed to annihilate the group in a relentless onslaught that has claimed the lives of more than 34,000 Palestinians.
On the other side of the divide, Fatah is the movement of Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The two rival factions have been unable to bridge their political differences since Hamas fighters expelled Fatah from Gaza in a short war in 2007.
The United States, which supports the Palestinian Authority but has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, has expressed wariness over attempts to reconcile the two groups. However, China appears determined to play a mediating role in the conflict.
A Fatah official confirmed to Reuters that a delegation led by the group’s senior official, Azzam Al-Ahmed, has already left for China. Meanwhile, a Hamas official stated that the faction’s team for the talks, led by senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk, would be flying to Beijing later on Friday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin affirmed Beijing’s support for strengthening the authority of the Palestinian National Authority and facilitating reconciliation among Palestinian factions through dialogue and consultation.
The visit will mark the first time a Hamas delegation is publicly known to have traveled to China since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. A Chinese diplomat, Wang Kejian, had previously met with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar last month, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
The Beijing-based diplomat, who was briefed on the matter, stated that the talks aimed to support efforts to reconcile the two Palestinian rival groups.
China’s growing diplomatic clout in the Middle East has been evident in recent years, with the country enjoying strong ties with Arab nations and Iran. Last year, Beijing brokered a breakthrough peace deal between longstanding regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran, underscoring its ability to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes.
During his recent visit to Beijing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials how China can play a constructive role in global crises, including the Middle East.
Chinese officials have ramped up their advocacy for the Palestinians in international forums in recent months, calling for a larger-scale Israeli-Palestinian peace conference and a specific timetable to implement a two-state solution. In February, Beijing urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to give its opinion on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories, which it said was illegal.
More recently, China has been pushing for Palestine to join the United Nations, with Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi stating last week that such a move would “rectify a prolonged historical injustice.”
