Palestinian factions sign 'Beijing Declaration,' agree to form unity government after talks in China

Opposing Palestinian factions agreed to form an interim national unity government during negotiations in China that ended on Tuesday with the signing of the Beijing Declaration, China's foreign ministry said.

Previous efforts to reconcile rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have failed to do so. The Beijing Declaration has yet to be tested on the ground.

The agreement displays China's growing influence in the Middle East. Last year, it brokered a breakthrough peace deal between longstanding regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Palestinian factions including rivals Hamas and Fatah agreed to end their divisions and form an interim national unity government during negotiations in China that ended on Tuesday, China's foreign ministry said.

The Beijing Declaration was signed at the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among 14 Palestinian factions held in China's capital from July 21-23, according to the readout.

Previous efforts by Egypt and other Arab countries to reconcile Hamas and Fatah have failed to end 17 years of power-sharing conflict that have weakened Palestinian political aspirations, and it remains to be seen whether this deal will survive the realities on the ground.