Hamas signed, after negotiations in Beijing, an agreement with other Palestinian factions, including Fatah.
“Today we signed an agreement on national unity and we say that the way to complete this process is national unity. We are committed to national unity and we call for it,” said Musa Abu Marzouk, a member of the Hamas cabinet.
“Beijing Declaration”
Earlier, Chinese official media reported that a total of 14 Palestinian factions signed an agreement – the “Beijing Declaration” – in an official ceremony that concluded the reconciliation dialogue from yesterday, Sunday 21, to today, Tuesday 23 July.
Hamas and Fatah, in open conflict for 17 years, began talks in China in April to try to bridge their differences amid the war in the Gaza Strip.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomed the deal, which he said envisages the formation of an “interim government of national reconciliation” to take over governance of the Gaza Strip after the end of the war.
“The most important thing is the agreement that provides for the formation of an interim government of national reconciliation for the governance of post-war Gaza,” Mr. Wang stressed.
70 dead in Israeli attacks on Khan Younis
At least 70 people were killed and more than 200 injured in Israeli strikes in the previous hours in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.
In the morning, the Israeli army issued an evacuation order for the neighborhoods of Khan Younis, warning that it would proceed with an operation after rockets were fired from an area designated as a humanitarian zone. A short time later, the bombardment began.
Sources: Reuters, APE-MPE