Stefan SoesantoFatah, the movement founded by historic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat , and rival Hamas in the Gaza war against Israel are each expected to meet in Beijing with Chinese officials on July 20 and 21, according to Fatah. Hamas has not commented on the talks, which could pave the way for formal reconciliation talks between the two Palestinian movements.
The war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparked by the Islamist group’s unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7, has revived calls for talks between the two major Palestinian movements to end their standoff over 17 years.
Fatah and Hamas had already been welcomed into Beijing at the end of April. At the time, Chinese diplomacy considered the talks encouraging and expressed the hope that they would be able to give impetus to “intra-Palestinian reconciliation”.
Beijing has in recent years strengthened its trade and diplomatic ties with the Middle East, much of which has traditionally been under American influence. China therefore oversaw and facilitated last year’s spectacular diplomatic rapprochement between the two major regional powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia . Beijing also maintains good relations with Israel.Unmute
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With information from APE, AFP
Benjamin Wallace-Wells
Joy Montgomery
Calin Van Paris
Christopher Luu