Responding to questions at a every day briefing in New York, UN spokesman Stefan Dujarric mentioned Antonio Guterres “very a lot welcomes the signing of the Beijing Declaration by all Palestinian factions,” including, That is “an vital step to additional promote Palestinian unity”.
Hamas, which has dominated Gaza since 2007, pressured Fatah out of the enclave after successful a majority in elections the earlier yr. Fatah is in energy within the West Financial institution, the place earlier makes an attempt to finish factional combating have confirmed elusive.
The brand new China-brokered deal, referred to as the Beijing Declaration, entails 14 completely different Palestinian teams and was introduced in a joint assertion by Fatah and Hamas as a prelude to a brand new unity authorities, reportedly with out offering a timetable for implementation or particulars.
Name for extra dialogue
“The Secretary-Common encourages the factions to beat their variations by way of dialogue and urges them to implement the commitments made and declarations signed in Beijing,” Mr Dujarric mentioned.
“Now we have seen this earlier than, we’ve mentioned this earlier than, and I feel all steps in the direction of unity ought to be welcomed and inspired. As we’ve mentioned many instances, Palestinian unity is crucial for peace and safety and the development of the Palestinian folks Self-determination and the will to determine a totally impartial, democratic, steady, viable and sovereign Palestinian State are of paramount significance.
Mr. Guterres expressed appreciation for China’s diplomatic efforts and the efforts of different international locations to advertise this course of.
two international locations
The United Nations is dedicated to a complete answer to the Israeli-Palestinian battle with safe, acknowledged borders, primarily based on the pre-1967 borders and with Jerusalem because the capital of each international locations, in accordance with UN resolutions and worldwide legislation.
The US and different Western international locations refuse to acknowledge any Palestinian authorities that features representatives of Hamas until it explicitly acknowledges the state of Israel. The US, Britain and different international locations formally listing Hamas as a terrorist group.
Israel has vowed to make the destruction of Hamas a central objective of its conflict in Gaza and has thus far mentioned it won’t relinquish management of the enclave or permit the present Palestinian Authority to change into the area’s ruler.