Beijing/Tel Aviv, 23 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The rival Palestinian organizations Hamas and Fatah have agreed to end their longstanding conflict, according to Chinese state media.

A total of 14 Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Fatah, have reportedly signed a declaration in Beijing to strengthen Palestinian unity. The aim is to form a unity government, Palestinian media reported on Tuesday.

Similar agreements between the two organizations in the past have brought no progress, so the new declaration has been met with great scepticism in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

The Beijing declaration "demonstrates China's sincere efforts to support the rights of the Palestinian people, end the division and unify the Palestinian position," a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"This is the first time that 14 Palestinian factions have gathered in Beijing for a reconciliation dialogue, bringing valuable hope to the suffering Palestinian people," the spokeswoman added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed his scepticism on the social meida platform X: "Hamas and Fatah signed an agreement in China for joint control of Gaza after the war.

"Instead of rejecting terrorism, [Palestinian President] Mahmoud Abbas embraces the murderers and rapists of Hamas, revealing his true face.

"In reality, 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."

MIA file photo