In a historic move for Middle East peace, Hamas, Fatah, and 12 other Palestinian factions signed the Beijing Declaration this week after Chinese mediation. The agreement – likened by experts to pulling out of a hat – pledges to form a unity government and end years of division.
\"This blocks Israeli efforts to divide us,\" said Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative, calling it the most significant pact in decades. Hamas spokesperson Hossam Badran hailed it as a \"positive step toward national unity\" on Telegram.
The UN also welcomed the breakthrough, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stating it advances Palestinian self-determination goals. Columbia University’s Jeffrey Sachs praised China’s growing peacemaking clout: \"America calls these conflicts impossible – China just solved two.\"
From brokering Saudi-Iran détente to this latest deal, Beijing is fast becoming the go-to mediator for hotspots. \"Without Chinese help, this wouldn’t have happened,\" Barghouti told CGTN.
While challenges remain, the declaration marks a rare moment of consensus in a region often defined by discord. As one X user put it: \"Who needs Marvel superheroes when you’ve got diplomacy? \"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com