Israel swiftly condemned an agreement brokered by China that would bring Hamas into a “national reconciliation government” in Gaza once military operations cease, AFP reports.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz insisted that “Hamas rule will be crushed” and accused Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah faction signed the deal, of embracing the group whose October 7 attacks triggered the fighting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in the United States to address a joint session of Congress, has vowed to fight on in Gaza until Hamas is eliminated.
China hosted senior Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuk, Fatah envoy Mahmud al-Aloul and emissaries from 12 other Palestinian factions. Hamas politburo member Hossam Badran framed China’s involvement as a way to counter US influence.
He accused the United States of bias and opposing “any internal Palestinian national consensus”, as well as partnering with “the occupation (Israel) in its crimes against our people”.