Top News: Palestinian Factions Unite in Beijing Amid Skepticism and Divided Public Opinion
Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, signed a unity agreement in Beijing on Tuesday. The announcement came after reconciliation talks hosted by China involving 14 Palestinian factions over the weekend. While the Chinese Foreign Ministry hailed this as a significant step towards Palestinian unity, skepticism remains high among Palestinians.
According to pollster Khalil Shikaki of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, since October 2020's war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, he has conducted three surveys involving over 1,200 to 1,500 Palestinians. In the latest survey published on June 12th, more than half of Gazan respondents reported losing family members during the conflict which killed over 39,000 people.
Two-thirds of Palestinian respondents continue to support Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel and believe it put the Palestinian issue at global attention. About half of Gazan respondents expect Hamas to win the war with Israel and return to rule the Gaza Strip. In June, 40% of Palestinians in both West Bank and Gaza preferred Hamas to govern them, followed by Fatah (20%).
Despite this unity agreement, Palestinian public opinion remains divided. The latest polls indicate that a significant portion of Palestinians continue to support Hamas' violent struggle against Israel.
The Chinese government has presented itself as a potential peace broker in the conflict, but its role and impact on the situation remain uncertain.
Furthermore, it is important to note that sources may have biases which could influence their reporting. For instance, some media outlets may be more sympathetic towards Hamas or Fatah than others. It is crucial to consider these potential biases when evaluating news reports and forming your own understanding of the situation.