Palestinian Factions Sign Unity Accord in Beijing

Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, along with 12 other groups, signed a declaration in Beijing to form a national unity government for post-war Gaza. This agreement, brokered by China after three days of talks, aims to end years of discord and create a roadmap for governance once a ceasefire with Israel is reached. While China and the signatories praised the deal as a historic step toward unity, skepticism remains high due to past failures of similar agreements. The U.S. has yet to review the agreement and maintains that Hamas should have no role in Gaza’s governance. Analysts and critics suggest the declaration might be more symbolic than practical, casting doubt on its implementation. Israel has criticized the agreement, asserting that Hamas will ultimately be ousted and that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will govern from afar.