Islamic bloc welcomes China-brokered Palestinian unity deal

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation welcomed on Thursday a deal brokered by China to form a Palestinian unity government between rival factions Hamas and Fatah, hailing the step as instrumental in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations. This "significant and positive" measure would help restore Palestinian unity by putting in place a post-war administration that would ultimately lead to an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Riyadh-based bloc said in a statement. Known as the "Beijing Declaration," the reconciliation talks in the Chinese capital brought together some 14 Palestinian factions from July 21-23 aiming to form a unity government to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the war. Source: Kuwait News Agency