Faction Conference in Beijing: A Blow to ‘Israel’, US, and UAE Plans for Post-War Gaza

Despite differences between Fatah and Hamas, Palestinian factions took a significant step towards reconciliation in Beijing, culminating in a three-day meeting that ended with an agreement to form a "temporary government," challenging Israeli plans for Gaza.

On July 23, 2024, 14 Palestinian factions agreed on four key points, the most important being the formation of a temporary national unity government to exercise authority over all Palestinian territories, reaffirming the unity of the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza.

This agreement signifies a unified Palestinian governance of Gaza post-occupation, dealing a blow to Israeli and American plans to establish a colonial rule in Gaza, which aims to end resistance and reinforce normalization.

The agreement also counters the UAE's dubious role in collaborating with the Israeli Occupation to send proxy forces to govern Gaza, aiming to disarm the region and alter its educational curriculum.

Historically, Palestinian reconciliation agreements, ten of which were counted by Al-Estiklal, often remain unimplemented. Therefore, the real test lies in execution, not just declarations, as previous similar recommendations from various conferences remained unfulfilled.

However, the significance of the Beijing meeting lies in its timing, coinciding with the genocide in Gaza and the International Court of Justice's ruling on July 19, 2024, that Israeli presence in occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and that Palestinians have the right to self-determination.

On July 18, 2024, Israeli Occupation’s Knesset overwhelmingly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state, claiming it would pose an existential threat to “Israel.”

Four Terms

The four points agreed upon by Palestinian factions on July 23, 2024, are reminiscent of prior agreements dating back to the Cairo Declaration on March 19, 2005, emphasizing comprehensive national unity, the formation of a national unity government, and general and presidential elections.

The Beijing Declaration reiterated four points aimed at implementing previous agreements to end division. Firstly, the commitment to establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.

Secondly, it asserted the Palestinian right to resist occupation and end it, according to international law, the UN Charter, and the right to self-determination, employing all available means.

Thirdly, it emphasized forming a temporary national unity government with the authority to govern all Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza, as per the Palestinian basic law, with its role defined to unify institutions across Palestinian territories, initiate Gaza's reconstruction, and prepare for general elections.

The fourth point focused on practical steps to form a new Palestinian National Council (parliament) and develop the institutions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Despite the declaration stating the unified government would be formed by a decision from President Mahmoud Abbas, indicating the Palestinian Authority's involvement in Gaza, the Israeli Occupation rejected this unified government.

The timing of this declaration before Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. could pressure both Tel Aviv and Washington, as the Democratic Party administration seeks to avoid embroiling Joe Biden in support for “Israel” to unify the party before the presidential elections.

The factions' statement emphasized resisting and thwarting attempts to displace Palestinians, especially in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, and underscored the illegitimacy of settlement expansion according to international resolutions.

The statement also stressed efforts to lift the brutal siege on Gaza and the West Bank, ensure the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid without restrictions, support the Palestinian people's resilience and resistance, rebuild what the Israeli Occupation destroyed, and aid families of martyrs and the wounded.

Reuters reported on July 23, 2024, that analysts view the agreement as difficult to implement, given the deep animosity between Palestinian factions and Western opposition to Hamas, preventing its role in governance.

The absence of a timeline for implementation was noted, but Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, stated that factions would immediately begin practical steps to implement the reconciliation agreement signed in Beijing.

Barghouti, a signatory to the agreement, mentioned that President Mahmoud Abbas would promptly consult with all factions to form a temporary national unity government to address the impacts of division and extricate the Palestinian cause from its crisis caused by ongoing Israeli aggression, particularly the genocide in Gaza.

He emphasized that time is running out, with “Israel” working to dismantle and destroy the Palestinian cause, leaving Palestinians with no option but to end division.

Reuters quoted Ashraf Abouelhoul, a specialist on Palestinian affairs and managing editor of the Egyptian state-owned paper al-Ahram, said previous similar declarations had not been implemented and nothing would happen without U.S. approval.

"Forming a unity government with Hamas is rejected by the United States, Israel, and Britain. There is a consensus among those countries to exclude Hamas from any role in the day after the war," Abouelhoul said.

Palestinian politicians and activists expressed concerns about the fate of this agreement among factions, fearing it may share the fate of previous ones, stressing that the real measure is in implementation.

Tahani Mustafa, a senior Palestinian affairs analyst at the International Crisis Group, told CNN on July 23, 2024, that most Palestinians would receive news of the reconciliation with the usual caution and pessimism.

She attributed this to the failure to address the main issues that have proven to be obstacles to reconciliation in the past, resulting in no substantial outcome.

She explained that the biggest obstacle so far has been (Palestinian Authority President and Fatah leader) Mahmoud Abbas and his absolute reluctance to relinquish his monopoly on power, noting that Hamas does not oppose the PLO but seeks representation within it.

Diana Buttu, a Palestinian human rights lawyer and former advisor to Abbas, told the Washington Post on July 23, 2024, that the danger now is that the 88-year-old Abbas will sideline reconciliation efforts as he has in the past.

She added that he would do this either under pressure from “Israel” and the United States to marginalize Hamas or due to his desire to remain in power. The reason he has not agreed to this in the past is his fear of being excluded.

A challenge to ‘Israel’ and the U.S. 

However, experts say that merely agreeing to unify the factions and announcing the formation of a temporary national unity government to manage Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem is a significant achievement at a time when the West and “Israel” are making plans for ruling Gaza and devising dubious schemes.

Hamas welcomed the announcement, calling it a "formidable barrier against all regional and international interventions that seek to impose schemes against our people's interests in managing Palestinian affairs after the war."

Husam Badran, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said in a statement that the most important point of the agreement was the formation of a Palestinian national unity government to manage our people's affairs in Gaza and the West Bank.

He noted on Hamas' al-Aqsa channel via Telegram, the "agreement on Palestinian demands related to ending the war and the barbaric aggression, which are 'ceasefire, full withdrawal from Gaza, relief, and reconstruction.'"

“From our perspective, this solution represents the best and most suitable national solution for the Palestinian situation after the war."

Since this Palestinian consensus undermines their plans, “Israel” objected, and Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz attacked President Mahmoud Abbas in a television interview, claiming he embraced "Hamas killers and rapists" instead of "rejecting terrorism."

Interestingly, the Ramallah government had been attacking Hamas just 10 days before the agreement, blaming it for the Israeli Occupation's crimes “by hiding among civilians”, which is an Israeli repeated excuse; Tel Aviv welcomed the Ramallah government’s stance.

“Israel” mocked the Fatah-Hamas statement aimed to "end division and strengthen unity," and criticized Fatah, led by Abbas, for signing an agreement with Hamas regarding the post-war phase in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz wrote on X, claiming, “This won’t happen because Hamas's rule will be crushed, and Abbas will be watching Gaza from afar. Israel's security will remain solely in Israel's hands.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his goal is to destroy Hamas and opposes any role for it in governing Gaza after the war.

Netanyahu's far-right government, which rejects Palestinian aspirations for an independent state, also opposed the return of the Palestinian Authority to rule Gaza, an idea supported by Washington and its "moderate" Arab allies to end Hamas's rule.

Emirati Collusion 

The Palestinian factions' decision regarding the new reconciliation and arrangements for governing all occupied territories, including Gaza, coincided with a secret meeting in Abu Dhabi on July 18, 2024, to discuss dubious plans for Gaza governance led by the UAE.

The secret meeting, revealed by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid in Axios and Walla on July 23, 2024, included American, Israeli, and Emirati officials.

The Abu Dhabi meeting was attended by Brett McGurk, President Joe Biden's Middle East advisor; Ron Dermer, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister; and Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Foreign Minister.

Also present were two senior officials from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, working on post-war Gaza proposals, who joined the Israeli delegation in Abu Dhabi.

The secret meeting aimed to discuss "post-war plans for Gaza," according to two Israeli officials, with the UAE proposing to send forces to Gaza.

Axios reported that the Emiratis want to be part of the Gaza solution, excluding Hamas, but have significant reservations about the current Palestinian Authority leadership.

Netanyahu expressed a desire for the UAE to be part of the "day after" Gaza plan, sending troops and funding Gaza's reconstruction, changing its curriculum, and removing extremism, according to Axios.

One day before the Israeli delegation arrived in Abu Dhabi, the Emiratis presented their post-war Gaza plans in an opinion piece by Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE's special envoy, in the Financial Times on July 17, 2024.

Nusseibeh called for a temporary international force in Gaza to resolve the humanitarian crisis and stabilize the region, forming a basis for new governance.

She told the newspaper, coinciding with the Abu Dhabi meeting, that the UAE was ready to participate in the international force and send troops to Gaza with Palestinian Authority approval.

Her conditions included the international force entering Gaza by official invitation from the Palestinian Authority, significant reforms in the Ramallah Authority, appointing a new independent Prime Minister, and allowing the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza with Israeli approval based on a two-state solution.

10 Reconciliation Conferences 

The Palestinian territories have been politically divided for over 15 years, with Hamas governing Gaza and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority controlling the West Bank.

Multiple reconciliation meetings have been held since 2005, but none have resulted in tangible outcomes for national unity.

Below are the nine previous reconciliation meetings documented by Al-Estiklal, with agreements similar to the recent Beijing Declaration, marking the tenth reconciliation meeting.

These agreements have failed due to the Palestinian Authority's retreat and collaboration with the Israeli Occupation, believing that any upcoming Palestinian elections would bring Hamas to power in the West Bank, which the West and “Israel” reject.

Mecca Agreement - February 8, 2007: Fatah and Hamas, under the auspices of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, signed a reconciliation agreement to halt internal fighting in Gaza and form a national unity government.

Sana’a Declaration - March 23, 2008: Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation agreement to return Gaza to pre-June 2007 status, but disagreements on interpretation arose immediately.

The Egyptian Paper - September 2009: Following the 2008 Israeli war on Gaza, the agreement included similar provisions to end the Palestinian division and form a national unity government.

Cairo Agreement - May 4, 2011: Comprehensive dialogue addressed issues resulting from the Palestinian division, forming committees on elections, societal reconciliation, national unity government formation, public freedoms, and legislative council activation.

Doha Agreement - February 6, 2012: Signed by President Abbas and Khaled Mashal to accelerate the pace of national reconciliation, it included revitalizing and developing the PLO, forming a national consensus government, and elections.

Beach Agreement - April 23, 2014: Held at Ismail Haniyeh's house in Gaza's Beach Refugee Camp, the agreement aimed to form a Palestinian consensus government, followed by elections within six months, which did not happen.

Cairo Agreement - October 12, 2017: Fatah and Hamas, under Egyptian auspices, agreed to enable the consensus government to take full responsibility in Gaza, and for the presidential guard to supervise crossings.

Before these developments, Hamas announced on September 17, 2017, dissolving the administrative committee in Gaza, inviting the consensus government to assume duties, and agreeing to elections.

However, noble ambitions for the agreement quickly collapsed. When Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah visited Gaza in March 2018, he survived an assassination attempt near his convoy. Fatah immediately blamed Hamas, but sources suggested it was an Israeli plot to undermine the agreement.

Algeria Declaration - October 13, 2022: Signed by 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, as part of reconciliation efforts between the two factions.

A committee was also formed to end the division among Palestinian factions at the conclusion of their meeting in Egypt, referred to as the el-Alamein Meeting in Egypt on July 30, 2023. The factions reached an agreement to form a committee aimed at ending the division and achieving unity, according to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the closing statement.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh attended the meeting with a delegation from the movement, while three movements, namely Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, and the Palestinian As-Sa'iqa Organization, boycotted the meeting.

Israeli Rejection 

“Israel” has consistently thwarted reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. In 2009, for example, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “Israel” would not allow peace with Hamas and could not accept Hamas as a negotiating partner.

In 2012, an Israeli official announced that Tel Aviv would sever ties with the Palestinian National Authority if it included Hamas in its government, in response to the Doha Agreement in February 2012 and the declaration of a unified transitional government of non-factional technocrats.

After the Cairo Agreement in April 2011, Netanyahu stated that the Palestinian Authority must choose peace with “Israel” or peace with Hamas.

On June 30, 2011, President Abbas expressed concerns about the unity government due to international opposition, especially from the United States, against a government that included Hamas. He suggested postponing such a government until after the UN vote on statehood.

President Abbas has been under constant pressure from “Israel,” the United States, and Europe to prevent reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. In September 2013, Abbas admitted that he was under pressure from the United States and “Israel” not to achieve unity with Hamas.

Palestinian Legislative Council member from Hamas, Anwar Zboun, stated that both the United States and the European Union vetoed the reconciliation.

Even when a Palestinian unity government was formed in June 2014 without any Hamas ministers, “Israel” condemned the unity government, imposed sanctions on the new Palestinian National Authority government, and ended peace talks with Abbas.

One of the effective pressure tactics often used by “Israel” is withholding taxes collected on behalf of the Palestinian National Authority. “Israel” collectively punished Palestinians, for instance, following the formation of the Palestinian National Authority government in 2006 and the subsequent government in 2007 after the reconciliation agreement in May 2011 and UN requests by withholding funds from them.

A Victory for China 

This new agreement represents a diplomatic victory for Beijing and highlights China's growing influence in the Middle East, following its mediation of a historic peace agreement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023.

Dr. Abdullah K. Alshayji, a political science professor at Kuwait University, described Beijing's success in unifying Palestinian factions as establishing China's escalating role in Arab and Middle Eastern affairs and crisis resolution.

He considered it a continuation of the marginalization of the Arab and even Western role in resolving regional conflicts, questioning, “Where are the Arab mediators and our marginalized Arab League from mediating between Fatah and Hamas?”

German television channel Deutsche Welle (DW) attributed China's role in the Palestinian reconciliation to its efforts to promote itself as a peace broker in the Middle East, on July 23, 2024.

Following its mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Beijing sought to bridge the gap between the Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas.

Regarding China's objectives, DW quoted experts asserting that Beijing aims to achieve a significant diplomatic victory with the Palestinian reconciliation, positioning itself as an international peace broker in contrast to the United States.

China portrays itself as a peacemaker, countering what it claims is a destabilizing American role. Bonnie Glaser, managing director of GMF's Indo-Pacific program: “This is a top priority for China,” as she stated in her interview with DW.