IKRAM welcomes the news which emerged from Beijing, China on Tuesday the 23rd of July that 14 Palestinian factions headed by Fatah and Hamas signed an agreement on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity”. The announcement followed reconciliation talks which were hosted by China and involved the factions as Israel continues to wage its genocidal war against Hamas and the civilian population in Gaza.
According to China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, “the core outcome is that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) [becomes] the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinian people.” He added that “an agreement has been reached on post-Gaza war governance and the establishment of a provisional national reconciliation government.” This was further reinforced by the statements of Mustafa Bargouthi, President of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI), who was at the Beijing talks and declared that “all parties” have agreed to join the PLO and that the organisation will be the only legitimate representative of the Palestinians.
Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas’ Political Bureau, said that steps toward forming a consensus government were agreed to in principle, “with the approval of the Palestinian factions, to manage the affairs of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, supervise reconstruction and also prepare the atmosphere for elections at a later stage.”
IKRAM notes that the agreement signed in Beijing symbolises the convergence of aspirations towards a common direction – a welcome sign. A legitimate government representing the will of the people in Gaza and the West Bank to elect their leaders is needed in order to begin the rebuilding of Gaza and prepare grounds for a new and united Palestinian state.
IKRAM believes that unity amongst the different Palestinian factions will be a key enabler for a future Palestinian state and will ensure, in turn, the unity of the occupied West Bank and Gaza, block Israeli efforts to annex more lands in the West Bank and prevent continued occupation and control of Gaza. The recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling of Israeli occupation and annexation of Palestinian territories as being illegal under international law is a landmark decision and gives further impetus to Palestinian aspirations towards statehood.
IKRAM hopes that the proposed PLO consensus government will truly represent the will and aspirations of the entire Palestinian population, including its wide diaspora, and not become a Vichy government serving the Zionist occupation forces.
IKRAM commends the Chinese government for its consistent stance in opposing Israel’s war in Gaza and calling for Palestinian statehood. IKRAM calls upon every person and organisation with genuine goodwill and sympathy for the Palestinians to support the milestone agreement and to offer their heartfelt prayers and best wishes in order that the seeds of unity sowed in Beijing will ultimately blossom into a strong and successful endeavour, realising the human rights and national aspirations of the Palestinian people.
