UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed an accord brokered by China seeking reconciliation between Hamas and other Palestinian factions to form a national unity government in Gaza, AFP reports.

“I think all steps towards unity are to be welcomed and encouraged,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, adding that Guterres “very much welcomes the signing of the Beijing Declaration by the Palestinian factions.”

Speaking at the UN, spokesperson Dujarric said unity amongst the Palestinian factions was crucial.

“Palestinian unity … is crucial for peace and security and for advancing the aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination and for fully independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian state,” he said.