In July 2024, 14 Palestinian factions, including rivals Hamas and Fatah, signed the Beijing Declaration in China and agreed to form an interim national unity government. The deal set no timeline and was never put into practice. By 2026, Gaza’s civil affairs had passed to a separate technocratic committee created under the US-backed ceasefire plan.
This explainer covers what the factions agreed in Beijing, why the deal drew both praise and doubt, and what has happened to the idea of a unified Palestinian administration since then. It has been updated for 2026.
What the Palestinian factions agreed in China
The talks were held in Beijing from 21 to 23 July 2024, hosted by China’s foreign ministry. The final text, known as the Beijing Declaration, was signed on 23 July 2024. Envoys from Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Russia and Turkey attended as witnesses.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the planned body as an interim government that would run Gaza after the war as well as the West Bank. He also called the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
Key points of the Beijing Declaration
- Unity under the PLO: all factions agreed to work towards comprehensive national unity within the PLO framework.
- Interim unity government: a temporary government to manage Gaza and the West Bank, oversee reconstruction and prepare for elections.
- Statehood: a commitment to an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
- Aid and blockade: efforts to lift the Israeli blockade of Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to flow freely.
- Displacement: opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agreement | Beijing Declaration |
| Signed | 23 July 2024, Beijing |
| Parties | 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas |
| Host | China |
| Main promise | Interim national unity government |
| Timeline set | None |
| Status in 2026 | Not implemented; Gaza civil affairs moved to a technocratic committee |
Who signed the deal
Besides Fatah and Hamas, the signatories included the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian People’s Party and the Palestinian National Initiative, among others.
The split between Fatah and Hamas dates back to the 2006 legislative elections and Hamas’s takeover of Gaza in 2007. Since then, Fatah has led the Palestinian Authority in parts of the West Bank, while Hamas ran Gaza. Earlier reconciliation attempts brokered by Egypt and other Arab states had failed.
Reactions to the Beijing Declaration
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the declaration. Senior Hamas figures, including Musa Abu Marzouk and Husam Badran, backed it, though Abu Marzouk said he hoped it would not go the way of past agreements. Palestinian Islamic Jihad disputed the circulated text.
China, Egypt, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, the Arab League and the UN Secretary-General’s office were among those who welcomed the deal. The United States said Hamas could not play a role in Palestinian political life, and Israel’s then foreign minister Israel Katz criticised Abbas for working with Hamas.
Why many analysts were sceptical
Critics called the deal largely symbolic. It was vague, set no date for forming the government and did not address Hamas’s armed wing. Supporters pointed out that, unlike earlier deals, it included shared political principles. The agreement was also seen as a diplomatic win for China, which had brokered the Saudi Arabia and Iran deal in 2023.
What happened after the Beijing talks
The interim unity government promised in Beijing was never formed. In December 2024, Hamas and Fatah negotiators in Cairo discussed a smaller joint committee of 10 to 15 non-party members to run post-war Gaza, but senior Fatah figures questioned the plan and it did not take off at the time.
The bigger change came with the US-backed peace plan. US President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point plan on 29 September 2025, and a ceasefire took effect in Gaza on 10 October 2025. On 17 November 2025, UN Security Council Resolution 2803 authorised a technocratic committee of Gaza residents to run civil affairs.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza
The committee’s members were announced on 14 January 2026, with Ali Shaath as chair. It began work from Cairo on 16 January 2026 and is supervised by a body called the Board of Peace. Its role is limited to civilian affairs and it has no role in disarming armed groups.
On 6 July 2026, Hamas announced that it was dissolving its own emergency administration in Gaza so that the committee could take over. Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar called the move a trick. On 26 July 2026, the Israeli government approved the committee starting work inside Gaza, but no entry date was set.
Where Palestinian unity stands in 2026
The Beijing Declaration remains a statement of intent rather than a working arrangement. Gaza’s day-to-day administration is now tied to the ceasefire framework and the technocratic committee, not to the unity government the factions agreed on in China. Hamas still holds de facto security control in Gaza, which remains a central point of dispute.
For readers following the story, the key questions are whether the committee can operate inside Gaza, how disarmament is handled and whether elections, promised in Beijing, are ever scheduled. You can read more world explainers in our Buzz and Infotainment sections.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Beijing Declaration?
It is an agreement signed by 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, in Beijing on 23 July 2024. It promised national unity under the PLO and an interim unity government.
Did Hamas and Fatah form a unity government?
No. The interim unity government agreed in Beijing was never formed. No timeline was set and the deal was not implemented.
Who runs Gaza’s civil affairs now?
Since January 2026, a technocratic body called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, chaired by Ali Shaath, has been set up to manage civil affairs. It was authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and is supervised by the Board of Peace.
Why did China host the Palestinian talks?
China has sought a larger role as a mediator in the Middle East. Analysts saw the talks as part of that effort, following its role in the 2023 Saudi Arabia and Iran agreement.
Sources: Wikipedia: Beijing Declaration (2024), Wikipedia: National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, Al Jazeera.
