Photo: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among Palestinian factions and witnesses the signing of a declaration on ending division and strengthening unity by 14 Palestinian factions, in Beijing, capital of China, July 23, 2024. /Xinhua

The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which commenced on October 7t, 2023, has persisted for over nine months. This protracted conflict has resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis within the Gaza Strip. Analysts have emphasized that under such circumstances, it is increasingly urgent for Palestinian factions and people to achieve internal reconciliation. Against the background of national and existential crises faced by major factions, China has facilitated mediation efforts among various factions in Palestine.

According to Xinhua News Agency, high-level representatives of 14 Palestinian factions convened in Beijing from 21 to 23 for Chinese mediation and subsequently endorsed the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity (hereinafter referred to as the “Beijing Declaration”) on July 23. This historic gathering marks the first time that these 14 Palestinian factions have assembled in Beijing under Chinese mediation, bringing hope for the distressed Palestinian population.

Ⅰ. The Details of Chinese Mediation

The most crucial consensus reached by all Palestinian factions gathered in Beijing for Chinese mediation, as stated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, is the attainment of a comprehensive reconciliation and unity among the 14 factions. The primary outcome emphasizes that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the only legitimate representative of all Palestinians. The most remarkable highlight is that an agreement has been made to establish an interim national reconciliation government with a specific focus on post-war governance in Gaza. The strongest appeal lies in realizing authentic statehood for Palestine in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.

China sincerely hopes for the attainment of national unity among all Palestinian factions and the expeditious establishment of an independent state of Palestine through internal reconciliation, as stated by MAO. China and Palestine are committed to collaborating with all relevant parties in order to persistently strive towards this objective.

The Chinese-mediated negotiations between Palestinian factions, as highlighted by Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, have demonstrated significant progress in the formation of a consensus interim government through the implementation of tangible measures. He further emphasized that the Beijing Declaration went beyond all previous agreements reached among Palestinian factions in recent years.

Ⅱ. The Meaning of Chinese Mediation

All parties have emphasized that Chinese mediation represents a crucial step taken by all Palestinian factions towards resolving differences and achieving national unity. China’s actions have effectively demonstrated its responsibility as a major country and won wide praise from all stakeholders. The Beijing Declaration has conveyed a positive signal amidst the escalating conflict in Gaza, thereby fostering conditions conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East.

1. Win More Trust for China

The “Beijing rapprochement” assumes significance in light of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and the uncertain prospects of ceasefire negotiations. China has proactively intervened at this critical juncture, establishing a crucial channel for communication among regional countries and transforming what was widely perceived as an “impossible” situation into a potential pathway to peace.

Ding Long, a professor from the Middle East Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, emphasized that China consistently upholds its support for Palestinians’ righteous struggle. In recent years, China has increasingly played an increasingly important role within the Middle East region. Its reputation as a responsible global power and its fair position regarding the Palestinian issue have garnered trust from all stakeholders involved in Palestine. For example, a Fatah official expressed deep gratitude towards China for its unwavering support while highlighting how much affection and friendship exist between Chinese people and Palestinians. This factor significantly contributes to the success of mediation efforts in China.

The success of this Chinese mediation won China greater trust from diverse factions in Palestine. For instance, Badran commended China’s great efforts to achieve the mediation, emphasizing its international influence and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. Balesh Dostell, a scholar at Marmara University in Türkiye, highlighted China’s consistent contributions to regional and global peace and development through proposing effective plans, fulfilling commitments with tangible actions, and gradually winning deep respect as a key player in the Middle East.

2. Promoting National Unity in Palestine

The Beijing Declaration, as highlighted by Husam Badran, a member of the Political Bureau of Hamas, signifies a significant stride towards attaining Palestinian national unity.

Abdullah Abdullah, an official responsible for international relations at the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), commended China’s pivotal role in facilitating intra-Palestinian reconciliation, acknowledging China’s profound comprehension of the unwavering determination of the Palestinian people to safeguard their rights.

Husam Badran asserted that the Beijing Declaration signifies another “promising stride” towards attaining national cohesion among Palestinians. He stressed that China’s mediation in Beijing had agreed to establish an interim national reconciliation government with a primary focus on post-conflict governance in Gaza, which he deems as ‘the most optimal and suitable resolution’ for the predicament faced by Palestinians after the war.

3. Create Conditions for Regional Peace

The spillover effects of the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict have affected Lebanon, Syria, and other countries in the region, and there is a risk of further escalation. Nimrod Goren, president of the Institute for Regional Foreign Policy Studies in Israel, stated that Chinese mediation held by Palestinian factions in Beijing and the signing of the Beijing Declaration may bring some degree of stability and reduce differences within Palestine, thereby creating conditions for peace talks between Palestine and Israel. “This positive signal amidst a volatile regional situation will be conducive to Palestinian-Israeli negotiations as well as regional peace and stability”, he said. Abdulaziz Shabani, a researcher at the Center for political and Strategic Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, pointed out that “the realization of the Beijing Declaration will improve political, economic, and social situations in Palestine, which will increase the chances of achieving sustainable peace in the region”.

Sven Koepmans, an EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, commended and acknowledged China’s successful facilitation of mediation among 14 Palestinian factions in China and their joint endorsement of the Beijing Declaration. He lauded this significant accomplishment as a testament to China’s constructive and positive role in promoting intra-Palestinian reconciliation, ceasefire implementation, cessation of hostilities in Gaza, and advancement of the Middle East peace process.

Abdel-Mohdi Mutawi, the executive director of the Middle East Strategic Studies and National Security Forum of Egypt, stated that China is one of the few countries that have made efforts to bridge differences between and within Middle Eastern countries. He expects China to continue playing a constructive role in facilitating the Middle East peace process.

Ahmed Abdu, an associate fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House, stated that China’s diplomatic efforts in promoting Palestinian unity also convey a robust message to countries in the “Global South” and the Islamic world at large, demonstrating that China can offer alternative solutions from those provided by the West in an increasingly multipolar world.

4. Promote World Peace

Regarding the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, China has been calling for a cease-fire and cessation of fighting, actively promoting mediation among Palestinian factions, and supporting the implementation of the “two-state solution” in which Israel and Palestine coexist as states. Some foreign media have praised the Chinese mediation as a remarkable achievement and China has become a leader in promoting world peace. For example, the Washington Post of the United States said that in recent years, China has actively played the role of peacemaker on some of the world’s most intractable regional hotspot issues. Through China’s mediation, Palestinian factions reached the Beijing Declaration, once again demonstrating China’s commitment and determination to be a global mediator. Japan’s Asahi Shimbun said that China is actively engaged in mediation diplomacy in the Middle East, aiming to enhance its presence as a mediator.

“Lankaweb” in Sri Lanka has pointed out that China has contributed to peace in the Middle East region. Without reconciliation among Palestinian factions, the broader crisis in the Gaza Strip cannot be resolved. The world needs an active China to counterbalance the destabilizing effects of America’s fanaticism.

Hasni Abid, the director of the Center for Arab and Mediterranean World Studies, emphasized to Radio France Internationale that a political solution is imperative in order to confer significance upon the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.  At present, the Beijing Declaration provides a potential channel for realizing this political solution.

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