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- Various Palestinian factions agreed to end their divisions and strengthen Palestinian unity by signing the Beijing Declaration on Tuesday morning
- PM Shehbaz Sharif says the ‘agreement ignites hope that lasting peace can be achieved,’ urges world to press Israel to end ‘brazen violence’ in Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday hailed as “important diplomatic success” an agreement among leading Palestinian groups to form an interim unity government during talks in China.
Various Palestinian factions agreed to end their divisions and strengthen Palestinian unity by signing the Beijing Declaration on Tuesday morning in China, according to Chinese state media. The declaration was signed at the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among the factions held in Beijing on July 21-23.
A total of 14 Palestinian factions including the leaders of rival groups Fatah and Hamas also met with the media, with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi present, CGTN said in a social media post. As the meeting wrapped up, China’s top diplomat said the groups had committed to set up an “interim national reconciliation government” to govern Gaza.
Welcoming the Beijing Declaration, the Pakistan prime minister praised China for the efforts to unite the Palestinian factions, urging the world to press Israel for an end to its “brazen violence” that has destroyed Gaza and killed thousands of Palestinians since Oct 7 attacks by Hamas.
“For long the people of Palestine have seen nothing but pain and suffering,” Sharif said on X. “Today’s agreement ignites hope that lasting peace can be achieved.”
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza in October last year, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations and demanded international powers and multilateral bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza.
“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause,” Sharif said. “Unity among Palestinian factions is essential for a strong & effective voice for peace, justice & statehood. We stand with the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination.”
Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas after militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in a cross-border assault on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Israeli tallies.
The death toll among Palestinians in Israel’s retaliatory offensive since then has surpassed 39,000, Gaza health authorities say.