Muscat – The Sultanate of Oman has welcomed the meeting of Palestinian factions in the People’s Republic of China and the ensuing signing of the ‘Beijing Declaration’.

Palestinian factions signed a ‘national unity’ agreement aimed at maintaining Palestinian control over Gaza once Israel’s war on the enclave concludes.

The deal, finalised on Tuesday in China after three days of intensive talks, lays the groundwork for an ‘interim national reconciliation government’ to rule post-war Gaza, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The agreement was signed by long-term rivals Hamas and Fatah, and 12 other Palestinian groups.

In a statement, Oman’s Foreign Ministry said that the sultanate stresses the significance of the Palestinians joining ranks.

It called for empowering Palestinians by all political and diplomatic means towards the primary goal of ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and achieving justice by establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Oman said that the long overdue agreement should be achieved in a manner that is consistent with the Palestinian people’s aspirations for freedom and peace, as well as realisation of relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.

Speaking on the agreement at a news conference in Beijing, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk said, “Today, we signed an agreement for national unity and we say that the path to completing this journey is national unity.”

Israel, however, slammed the deal. Targeting Fatah chief and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for cooperating with Hamas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz reasserted his government’s stance that none but his country will control Gaza following the end of hostilities.

“Instead of rejecting terrorism, Mahmoud Abbas embraces the murderers and rapists of Hamas, revealing his true face,” Katz claimed on X. “In reality, this won’t happen because Hamas’ rule will be crushed, and Abbas will be watching Gaza from afar. Israel’s security will remain solely in Israel’s hands.”