China to receive Hamas, Fatah reps to reconcile rival Palestinian factions

Chinese authorities will receive representatives from the Palestinian Hamas radical movement and the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, Fatah, next week.

The meeting aims to reconcile the longstanding power struggle between these rival Palestinian factions, which have been vying for control in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign sources.

However, previous efforts to mediate negotiations, including an April meeting in Beijing, have not yielded concrete results. Moussa Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of the Hamas Political Bureau, stated that the movement's leader, Ismail Haniyeh, will head the Hamas delegation in Beijing. Fatah will be represented by three officials, including Deputy Chairman Mahmoud al-Aloul.

The upcoming meeting in Beijing between representatives of the Palestinian Hamas radical movement and the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, Fatah, comes against a backdrop of persistent internal Palestinian division. Hamas and Fatah, the two main political factions, have been at odds since 2007, when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip following a violent conflict with Fatah. Since then, Hamas has governed Gaza, while Fatah, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has administered parts of the West Bank.

The internal Palestinian split has posed significant challenges to the peace process with Israel, as well as to the overall governance and development of Palestinian territories. Numerous attempts at reconciliation, brokered by various international actors, have failed to produce lasting agreements. These efforts include a notable meeting in Beijing in April, which, like many before it, did not achieve tangible results.

China's involvement reflects its growing interest in Middle Eastern diplomacy and its desire to play a more active role in regional conflict resolution. The presence of high-ranking officials from both Hamas and Fatah, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Fatah Deputy Chairman Mahmoud al-Aloul, underscores the significance of this latest attempt at mediation. The international community watches with cautious optimism, hoping that this meeting might pave the way for a unified Palestinian front, which is crucial for any future negotiations with Israel and the broader peace process in the region.