Gaza Strip - Recent

Residents of the Gaza Strip have welcomed the meeting between the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Beijing this weekend, calling for genuine reconciliation and unity among Palestinians.

Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, expressed hope that China's efforts to facilitate dialogue between Fatah and Hamas will lead to an end of the longstanding political division as China is leveraging its relationships with various Palestinian factions to foster unity amidst ongoing political tensions and a severe humanitarian crisis.

Hamas governs Gaza, while the Fatah movement maintains partial administrative control in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The two factions have been embroiled in a bitter rivalry since the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.

The reconciliation talks in Beijing, aimed at resolving the serious political divisions between the two groups, are seen as crucial for ending the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Shotlist:
Gaza Strip - Recent:
1. Various of pedestrians on street;
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed Zaqoot, Gaza resident:
"After 21 years of humiliation and contempt for each other, we must say enough is enough. Everyone has to seek reconciliation. Everyone must see these children. We demand that China not let Fatah and Hamas leave until true reconciliation is achieved.";
3. Various of pedestrians on street;
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ouda Khodari, Gaza resident:
"We hope these efforts will bring fruitful results to all Palestinians. The war must stop. They must unite with each other -- our brothers in Fatah and Hamas, because the people of Gaza are the ones who are paying the heaviest price.";
5. Various of pedestrians on street;
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Amjad Shawa, director, Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network:
"China has a good relationship with various Palestinian parties. We hope that through these efforts undertaken by China to bring together Palestinian forces and factions, especially the Fatah and Hamas movements, an agreement will be reached to end the political division, especially in these difficult circumstances and this unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.";
7. Various of pedestrians, vehicles on street.

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