Israel criticizes Palestinian President Abbas for "transitional government" with Hamas
At a meeting in Beijing, 14 competing Palestinian factions, including the Islamist Hamas and the moderate-secular Fatah, agreed on a "national transitional government for reconciliation" for the post-war period in the Gaza Strip, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced. Representatives from Egypt, Algeria, and Russia were also present.
The plans outlined in the "Beijing Declaration" call for a "transitional government of national unity, in agreement with the Palestinian factions," which is to "exercise authority and jurisdiction over all Palestinian territories" - both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
"In reality, that won't happen," Israeli Foreign Minister Katz later declared. "The Hamas rule will be crushed, and Abbas will observe Gaza from afar."
The Palestinian Authority governs in the Israeli-occupied West Bank but only wields limited power there. In the Gaza Strip, Hamas took control in 2007 and violently displaced Fatah. Israel had completely withdrawn from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
The significance of this agreement is unclear. Neither Israel nor its close ally USA accept Hamas' involvement in a post-war order for the Gaza Strip. Israel wants Hamas dismantled and no longer poses a threat after the radical Islamists' attack on its territory on October 7, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
China's mediator role may involve economic interests: The region plays a crucial role in China's showcase infrastructure project, the New Silk Road. The ports, railways, airports, and industrial parks built as part of this project in Asia, Europe, and Africa are intended to give China better access to the markets of other countries. Additionally, Beijing aims to profile itself as a diplomatic mediator in the Middle East - as a rival to the USA.
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu met in Washington, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech before both houses of the US Congress on Wednesday. According to a US government representative, Netanyahu was also expected to meet President Joe Biden on Thursday. The relationship between the two politicians is tense due to Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip. A separate meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris was also planned.
The USA has supported Israel militarily and diplomatically since the unprecedented Hamas attack on the country on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1195 people and the abduction of 251 people, according to Israeli reports. 116 of these hostages are still being held, 44 of whom are officially reported to be dead.
As a response to the attack, Israel has been conducting massive military operations in the Gaza Strip since then. According to the health ministry controlled by Hamas (which cannot be independently verified), over 39,000 people have been killed in these operations.
The ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages under US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediation are currently being held in Doha. The latest report from the USA stated that there were still differences to be resolved, but US mediators made "progress."
Meanwhile, the fighting in the Gaza Strip continued unabated. According to the Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, in the city of Khan Younis on Monday, 73 people were killed and over 200 were injured. The Israeli army declared that their combat jets and tanks had "attacked and eliminated terrorists in that area". On Tuesday, over 50 "terroristic installations" were reportedly struck. In Rafah, militant Palestinians were reportedly killed in "air raids and close combat".
- Despite the agreement in Beijing, Israel and the United States of America do not recognize Hamas' involvement in the post-war order for the Gaza Strip.
- Wang Yi announced that 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, had agreed on a national transitional government in Beijing.
- Representatives from Egypt, Algeria, and Russia were present at the meeting where the Beijing Declaration was announced.
- According to Israeli Foreign Minister Katz, Hamas' rule in the Gaza Strip will be crushed, and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will observe from afar.
- Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, violently displacing Fatah, while Israel had completely withdrawn in 2005.
- The plans outlined in the Beijing Declaration call for a transitional government of national unity, which will exercise authority and jurisdiction over all Palestinian territories.
- Israel wants Hamas dismantled and no longer poses a threat after the radical Islamists' attack on its territory on October 7.
- Bénjamine Netanyahou, Israel's Prime Minister, met with President Joe Biden in Washington, aiming to discuss the tense relationship between the two due to Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip.
- The Algerian government, along with Egypt and Qatar, is mediating negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Doha.
- The Islamic Resistance Movement, commonly known as Hamas, is a Palestinian group that violently took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.
- Russia, Egypt, and Algeria were among the countries representing international interests at the meeting in Beijing, where the national transitional government was agreed upon.
