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Leaders of Palestinian factions, including those of rival groups Hamas and Fatah, signed a joint statement in China aimed at ending divisions between them, an agreement that some officials hailed as a breakthrough while others remained skeptical about its prospects, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Dubbed the “Beijing Declaration,” the agreement follows China-brokered negotiations between the factions earlier this week to mend relations between Fatah and Hamas amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

The two groups have been bitter enemies since a 2006-2007 power struggle that saw Hamas take control of Gaza and Fatah kicked out. Fatah currently governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, while Hamas has been embroiled in a bitter conflict with Israel in the Strip since October 2023.

Tuesday’s declaration called for the creation of a Palestinian unity government to oversee the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza, as well as eventually lead to elections. It also called for an international peace conference to work toward a two-state solution with Israel.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed the joint statement as a “historic moment for the cause of Palestine’s liberation.” He also called for the establishment of an interim national reconciliation government to govern Gaza after the conflict.

Some Palestinian representatives welcomed the declaration as an “additional positive step towards achieving Palestinian national unity,” CNBC noted.

But some participants and political analysts expressed doubt over the agreement’s effectiveness, noting that the meeting did not achieve breakthroughs or resolve key differences between the feuding movements.

They cited previous reconciliation efforts that have not resulted in any lasting changes, such as a 2022 accord signed by 14 Palestinian factions in Algeria.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz dismissed the joint statement and criticized Fatah leader and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for aligning with Hamas. Katz added that Hamas’ rule in the enclave will be crushed.

Gazans also questioned the diplomatic efforts, with some feeling disconnected from the political processes that do not address their immediate humanitarian needs.

The conflict in Gaza began shortly after Hamas and its allies launched a bloody attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7 that resulted in around 1,200 deaths in Israel and more than 250 people being taken hostage.

In response, Israeli retaliatory assaults have led to nearly 39,000 Palestinian deaths in the territory, according to health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Political observers explained that the recent diplomatic overtures underscored China’s efforts to position itself as a global mediator in international conflicts, contrasting its approach with that of Western countries.

Last year, Beijing brokered a historic détente between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia.