What’s happened: Chinese media is reporting that an interim reconciliation agreement has been signed between Hamas and Fatah, following Beijing-brokered talks.
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk, Fatah official Mahmud al-Aloul, and representative from 12 other Palestinian groups. Yi said the parties had agreed to establish an “interim national reconciliation government” to govern postwar Gaza.
- Abu Marzouk said, “Today we sign an agreement for national unity and we say that the path to completing this journey is national unity. We are committed to national unity and we call for it.”
- In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Katz criticised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah for moving towards reconciliation with Hamas. “Instead of rejecting terrorism,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “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.”
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued its own statement on the talks, saying it “rejects any formula that includes recognition of Israel explicitly or implicitly” and that it had “demanded the withdrawal of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s [ie Fatah’s] recognition of Israel.”
- Meanwhile, two senior terrorists were among several Palestinian killed by an Israeli drone strike and in further clashes in the West Bank city of Tulkarem yesterday.
- The IDF named the two as Ashraf Nafeh, the head of Hamas in Tulkarem, and Muhammad Awad, the head of the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in Tulkarem. The IDF said Nafeh was “responsible for manufacturing and embedding explosives intended to attack IDF soldiers, as well as recruiting new operatives into the Hamas organisation. Additionally, he was involved in numerous attacks against IDF soldiers in Judea and Samaria, and was in contact with external Hamas terrorists who advanced terror attacks in Judea and Samaria.”
- Awad, the IDF said, “was actively involved in shooting attacks against IDF soldiers. In addition, he raised terror funds to support the battalion’s activity in the area, and procured weaponry for the battalion.”
- Israeli military sources also said a female Palestinian combatant was killed after brandishing a weapon whilst wearing clothing marked “medical service”.
- Also yesterday, two Israeli Defence Ministry employees were lightly wounded when a bomb exploded at the security barrier in the Mount Gilboa area.
- The Shin Bet also announced on Monday that it had foiled a plot by a West Bank terror cell to kidnap Israelis. This followed the intelligence service revealing on Sunday that it had also thwarted a plan by Palestinian university students to launch a shooting attack on Israelis in the West Bank.
- In Gaza, the IDF has continued its operations in Khan Younis. Ahead of the operation, the IDF called on Gazan civilians to temporarily evacuate from specific areas of Khan Younis.
- According to the IDF, this was based on “intelligence indicating that terrorists were operating and firing rockets in these areas, as well as efforts by Hamas to reassemble its forces there.”
- IDF activity includes operations above and below ground, with the IDF confirming they have “eliminated several terrorists”.
Context: Hamas and Fatah have been divided, and the Palestinian national movement split, since elections in 2006 and a bloody civil war in 2007 left Hamas in power in Gaza and the Fatah Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA) in control in parts of the West Bank.
- Although notable, this provisional accord, if confirmed, should not yet be considered final. Seeming unification accords between Hamas and Fatah have ultimately come to nought in recent years. Ongoing tensions between the two parties was illustrated again recently when Abbas responded to the Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Mohammed Deif by blaming Hamas for the sufferings of the Gazan people during the war.
- Fatah officials highlight that Hamas are coming to the talks at its weakest point due to the losses it has taken in Gaza. Israeli media cites Fatah officials playing down reports of an agreement, saying that the joint statement was mainly intended as a show of respect to their Chinese hosts.
- The US has long pushed for the PA to assume a leading role in the post-war governance of the Strip. Even before these moves towards reconciliation, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been publicly resistant to such moves, citing the PA’s ongoing incitement of terror and financial support of terrorists, known as ‘pay for slay’.
- Katz’s comment that “Abbas will be watching Gaza from afar” is a reaffirmation of this position, and a reflection of sections of the Israel right’s desire for Israel to retain control of the Strip post-Hamas.
- The US has also been clear that Hamas cannot be part of the future governance of Gaza, and with US financial and diplomatic support essential for the reconstruction of the devastated Strip, any governance structure including Hamas would likely have serious implications for US support.
- China’s brokering and hosting of reconciliation talks reflects Beijing’s increasing diplomatic assertiveness and desire to insert itself as a major player in the region. It follows, for example, its 2023 brokering of peace talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
- The IDF said that its Tulkarem operation was one of 50 it has carried out in the West Bank over the past nine months. Some 4,400 Palestinian have been arrested, including some 1,850 affiliated with Hamas. The Palestinian Health Authority lists more than 560 Palestinians killed in the West Bank in that time, with Israel saying the majority were combatants killed during raids. 27 Israelis have been killed in that time, either from terror attacks or during clashes in the West Bank.
- Since October 7th, many have warned that the PA’s increasing lack of control in the West Bank could lead to a major conflagration. Thus far, despite the IDF’s need to conduct regular counter-terror raids, this has not come to pass. The PA, along with Washington, have repeatedly complained that Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich’s withholding of tax revenues collected on its behalf by Israel has exacerbated its own security services lack of control. The period has also seen a surge in violence from Israeli settlers towards West Bank Palestinians.
Looking ahead: Israel has reportedly reached agreement with the UAE and the World Health Organisation to facilitate the evacuation of 250 sick and wounded Gazans for medical treatment in the Emirates next week.
- The Israeli hostage negotiation delegation is expected to leave tonight for Egypt for further talks, with its latest proposal likely to be floated tomorrow.