Two parallel events across the opposite ends of the globe are making waves. Both of them are invariably linked to the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza. On July 23rd, China claimed to have successfully brokered a reconciliation agreement between various Palestinian factions. The two days long negotiations resulted in a Beijing Declaration signed by Hamas, Fatah and 12 other Palestinian factions on ‘ending division and strengthening Palestinian Unity’. Fatah was represented by Mahmoud al-Aloul and Mousa Abu Marzouk led Hamas delegation. The Palestinian groups have agreed to form a temporary National Unity Government.
The second
major event was pro-Palestinian supporters occupying the Capitol Hill building
protesting PM Netanyahu’s Congress address. The protestors burned down the US
flag, replaced it with a Palestine flag, vandalised properties and defiled the
monuments with“Hamas is coming” and “Free Gaza” graffiti.
As per the
details of the declaration, the unity government will exert its authority over
all the Palestinian territories including the West Bank, Gaza and al-Quds. It
asserted “commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state
with al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital” according to UN resolutions 181 (1947
resolution on partition) and 2334 (which designated Israeli occupations as
illegal). It underscored the Palestinian people’s right to self- determination
and the right to resist occupation and to end in accordance with international
law1.
The factions
that have acceded to the declaration agreed to meet regularly and activate the
Unified Temporary Leadership Framework and work towards delivery of
humanitarian and medical aid without restriction to the Palestinian people in
Gaza and West Bank. Other important clauses of the declaration included-
confronting the conspiracies of Israeli occupation and violations against
Al-Aqsa Mosque and welcoming the opinion of the International Court of Justice
which affirmed the illegitimacy of Israeli settlements. Given the track record
of the failed Palestinian reconciliation agreements, the Palestinian factions
will implement the agreement clauses with support from Egypt, Algeria, China
and Russia.
The
declaration coming at the sensitive time of the Gaza war entering its tenth
month has attempted to offer a crucial solution for governance and
administration of post-war Gaza war reconstruction and rehabilitation issues.
In the process, the declaration has given a fillip to the ‘two-state solution’
advocated by the UN and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and
increased the influence of the Palestinian Authority and by extension President
Mahmoud Abbas. Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister announced, “The PLO is the
sole legitimate authority of the Palestinian people”2.
Interestingly, neither Hamas nor PIJ (Palestine Islamic Jihad) are part of the
PLO.
The elusive
Palestinian unity has stymied the Palestine self-determination aspirations for
decades. After Israel vacated Gaza in 2005, in the closely contested 2006
elections, Hamas edged out Fatah narrowly. But after Hamas rejected the Road
Map set by the Quartet (US, UN, Russia and EU), the Fatah refused to join the
National Unity Government. Soon both factions clashed leading to a civil war
resulting in the overthrowing of Fatah completely from Gaza in 2007 and
division of the Palestinian territories between the two polities- Hamas ruled
Gaza and Fatah led Palestinian Authority rule in the West Bank. As of 2018,
seven reconciliation efforts to bring rival Palestine factions together
floundered. In 2022, Algeria hosted all 14 Palestinian factions to sign an
agreement for holding Parliamentary and Presidential elections within a year of
agreement. But nothing much changed on the ground.
Ahead of the
Beijing talks, the Israeli Knesset has passed a resolution rejecting the
two-state policy and establishment of an independent Palestinian State. The
July 18th resolution supported by the opposition parties stated,
“The Knesset of Israel firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state
west of Jordan. The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the
Land of Israel will pose an existential danger to the State of Israel and its
citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilise the
region”.
Making no
secret of Israeli fears, the resolution contended, “It will be a matter of
short time until Hamas takes over the Palestinian state and turns it into a
radical Islamic terror base, working in coordination with the Iranian-led axis
to eliminate the State of Israel”3.
A day later
Hamas and PIJ called upon the PLO to drop its recognition of Israel. Though it
is unclear whether the Beijing declaration officially recognises Israel, Hamas
and Fatah have diverging positions. Hamas accepts a state based on 1967 borders
but doesn’t recognise Israel while Fatah-led PA adheres to the peace agreements
signed with Israel. Besides, these contradictions, the major drawback of the
declaration is the absence of any reference to the election timeline for the
formation of the new interim Palestinian government.
Israel has
outrightly rejected the agreement and lambasted Mahmoud Abbas for “embracing
the murderers and rapists of Hamas”. The US, Western countries have refused to
accept any Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless it recognises
Israel.
Though the
US envisions a role for a reformed PA in governance of Gaza, they are against
any role for Hamas while Israel has vowed to crush Hamas after the October 7th
terror attack. The Beijing talks
perceived with some sense of relief in some corners are meted with widespread skepticism.
Indeed, two parallel mechanisms are being contemplated for the post-war Gazan scenario.
The US and Israel are initiating an international mission comprising of Arab
States to administer Gaza after the war.
Chinese
motivation for steering the Palestinian reconciliation stems from its global
ambitions of positioning itself as an alternative. Augured by the 2023
Saudi-Iran reconciliation, Beijing is keenly seizing every opportunity to
buttress its influence in the region. Having severed ties with Iran, Washington
couldn’t have mediated any negotiations between Iran and Saudi. Similarly, the
US couldn’t directly talk with Hamas. In both cases, China successfully used
its diplomatic heft to play the role of a mediator. Buoyed by its role in
Iran-Saudi normalisation, China proposed a 12-point peace plan for the Ukraine
war. But its undisguised allegiances and one-sidedness have toppled its
aspirations to be a global mediator.
Fraught with
challenges, Palestinian reconciliation has fostered political unity among the
various factions. This strengthened their pursuit of a Palestinian state and
gave fresh momentum to the two-state policy. By hosting the Palestinian
factions, China attempts to play a major role in terms of becoming a
representative of Palestinian interests internationally.
Effectively
capitalising on its deepening economic engagement, China aspires to play a
major role in the Middle East. Defying the reimposed 2018 US sanctions, China
imported oil from Iran and continued to expand its influence through economic
and diplomatic initiatives.
Known for
its cautious approach to geopolitical issues responding to the gruesome October
7th attacks on Israel, in a press conference on October 8th,
China remarked, “The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing
the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine”. The
following day China stated, “We’re deeply saddened by the civilian casualties
and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians”.
On October
15th in a call with his Saudi counterpart, Wang Yi lambasted
Israel’s action in Gaza as “beyond the scope of self-defense” calling it a
collective punishment4. Wang Yi for the first time spoke to
his Israeli counterpart on October 23 and told China “condemns all acts that
harm civilians”.
China
refused to condemn Hamas's action and continued its pitch for a two-state
solution in all its conversations. Along with Russia, China vetoed the US push
for UNSC action on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Reinforcing its pro-Palestinian
stand, a longstanding position, Beijing is portraying itself as the messiah of
the Palestinian cause.
Wang Yi’s
phone call to Iranian counterpart offers China’s explicit stance on the
Israel-Hamas conflict. He said, “China supports Islamic countries in
strengthening solidarity and coordination and speaking with one voice on the
Palestinian question….. China will continue to stand on the side of peace and
justice, and support the Palestinian people’s just cause of safeguarding their
national rights”.
Given China’s
unequivocal backing for Hamas, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Houthis have
agreed not to attack Chinese and Russian vessels and pledged a safe passage to
their ships as long as they keep away from Israel. Days after this
announcement, US officials sought Chinese help to urge Tehran to restrain
Houthis and curb attacks on vessels passing through the Red Sea. The US indeed
unsuccessfully reached out to counterparts in Beijing to influence Tehran to
prevail over Hamas and stop the Gaza war.
In fact, in
June Saudi delegation that headed to Beijing to discuss a strategic defence partnership
told Chinese diplomats that Riyadh was ready to make concessions to Houthis in
exchange for halting attacks on ships heading to and leaving the Saudi ports5.
Since the 2023
Chinese-mediated Saudi and Iran rapprochement, Beijing has demonstrated its sway in the Middle East
to the world. China is keen on taking the advantage of strategic low-cost tactic
of mediating conflicts to emerge as a major player in global affairs. With no
history of military involvement, China is considered less controversial. China
is planning to deploy its perceived neutral power status to realise its global
ambition of positioning itself as an alternative and counterbalance to the US.
China is
making all the right moves. But China’s history of shielding Pakistan, the
abettor of terrorism from global censure, upgradation of ties with the Afghan
Taliban and acceptance of the credentials of Taliban appointed ambassador has
exposed its acquiescence of terrorism. China’s indifference to the scourge of
terrorism is further exemplified by the Beijing Declaration that gave
legitimacy to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.
The
Palestinian reconciliation agreement has uncovered China’s double standards. On
one hand, China vouched for support to Islamic nations on coordination on the
Palestinian issue but back home it unleashes aggressive sinicisation in Xinjiang.
Detaining close to 4 million Uighurs China is forcing them to disown their Muslim
identity. Make no mistake. Chinese mediation of the Palestinian Unity
Government is symbolic and strategic. There can certainly be no two ways about
it.
In its bid
to position itself as an ally of the Muslim World China incontrovertibly
pitched for the two-state solution. With this strategic gambit, China, perhaps
has irreversibly roiled its ties with Israel.
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