Gaza Strip - Recent

Storyline:
People in Palestine have expressed their support for efforts to secure peace by their leaders as the two Palestinian factions have met in Beijing under Chinese mediation.

At the invitation of China, representatives of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) recently came to Beijing for in-depth and candid talks on promoting intra-Palestinian reconciliation, and achieved positive progress, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed on Tuesday.

The two sides agreed to continue this dialog process and strive for the early realization of Palestinian unity and reached an agreement on the next step of dialog, according to the spokesman Lin Jian.

In interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN), the Palestinian people in the war-torn Gaza Strip commended China for brokering this meeting, calling for a solution to restore peace and normal life of the people.

The internal division between Fatah and Hamas began in 2007 when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip from Fatah. Since then, the Palestinian territories have been split into a Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and a Fatah-dominated West Bank. Over the past 17 years, the two rivals have reached several agreements and understandings.

The Palestinian Authority is the Fatah-controlled government body that comprises most major Palestinian factions.

Shotlist:
Gaza Strip - Recent:
1. Various of pedestrians, vehicles, vendors;
2. Tents on roadside, pedestrians;
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Am Muhammad Taima, Palestinian refugee:
"We hope that we will return to Gaza soon to live in our cities like the rest of the residents of Palestine. Regarding the news we hear about Fatah and Hamas meetings under Chinese sponsorship, we hope that China will succeed in this role and can pave the way for reaching an agreement that will end these difficult circumstances in which we are living."
4. Tents, refugees on roadside;
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sufyan Matar, member, Central Committee, Palestine Liberation Front:
"We hope that it will build on what was previously agreed upon through these meetings in Beijing, and that we will start a new page, especially in the face of these complex political and security circumstances facing the people of Gaza and the West Bank as a result of this aggression condemned by all countries of the world."
6. Various of pedestrians, vehicles.

[Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]