Israeli airstrikes kill at least 13 people in Gaza refugee camps as cease-fire talks grind on
CBSJUL 2024
Hamas, Fatah Agree to Form Unity Government in the Future
Above: Riyad al-Maliki, Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, speaks during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Feb. 13, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Image copyright: Omer Messinger/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
This doomed-to-fail accord is just another sign that Hamas is on its knees. Indeed, this agreement is a lifeline for Hamas provided by China and Abbas, though it is unlikely to produce anything meaningful. China wants to strengthen its hand in the region by preventing Hamas' demise, and Abbas simply seeks to appease a potential ally in Beijing.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel's genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza has changed the calculus of the Palestinian factions. If Gaza and the West Bank are under one administration, it means that Israel can no longer say that it is unable to make peace. Palestinians must be united in the face of Israel's brutality if they are to improve their situation.