Fatah and Hamas agree to strengthen Palestinian unity after signing Beijing declaration | World News

Leaders of rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas have signed a declaration to end years of division.

They said they would form a unity government with other factions after talks hosted by China’s foreign minister in Beijing.

The groups signed an agreement on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity”, said Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The announcement came after talks involving 14 Palestinian factions started on Sunday in China‘s capital.

It’s the latest move to revive efforts to form a government for the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Tensions have been rising between Fatah and Hamas over the latter’s continued war with Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, has previously criticised the group for the war, while Hamas has accused Mr Abbas of taking Israel’s side.

They have been at odds since Hamas won elections in 2006 and took over the Gaza Strip following a brief war in which it routed the Western-backed Palestinian forces loyal to Mr Abbas.

Efforts have been going on ever since to end disputes between Hamas, which runs Gaza, and Fatah – which makes the backbone of the Palestinian Authority and administers pockets of the West Bank.

Previous talks have failed due to the power struggle and the West’s refusal to accept any government including Hamas unless the group – designated a terrorist entity by the UK and US – recognises Israel.

Tuesday’s declaration was also signed by groups including Islamic Jihad, which fights alongside Hamas in Gaza, and the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

China’s relations with the Palestinians stretch back to the 1960s when it provided food, weapons, training and support to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

More recently China has developed significant financial interests in the Middle East, but hosting the talks is a sign it’s trying to increase its diplomatic clout in the region at a time when its relationship with Israel – with whom it has economic interests – is strained over the Gaza conflict.