Palestinian groups forge unity in Beijing summit pushed by China

14 Palestinian groups have reached an agreement to end divisions and strengthen unity. The document was signed in Beijing. China organized the summit, which aimed to end disputes among Palestinian organizations.

Talks were supposed to involve 14 groups, including the Fatah movement ruling the West Bank and Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

Representatives of the Palestinian groups also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, CCTV reported on social media.

Both main groups, Fatah and Hamas, previously met in China in April. Reuters reminded us that the Chinese government organized the talks to reach an agreement that would end the 17-year-old open conflict among Palestinians. Ultimately, the talks lasted for several days.

The two main Palestinian factions have conflicted since Hamas won the parliamentary elections in 2006 and took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 following a brief civil war, during which they defeated the Western-backed Palestinian forces loyal to Abbas, Sky News recalls.

Efforts made since 2007 by Arab countries, led by Egypt, have so far not succeeded in ending the disagreements over the division of power between Hamas, which governs Gaza, and the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas himself has openly criticized Hamas for its war with Israel, while Hamas has accused the Palestinian president of siding with Israel.