Fatah and Hamas, long-standing rivals, signed a joint statement in Beijing, backed by China, to form a temporary government in Gaza and the West Bank. The agreement aims for a unified government, but lacks details on its formation and timing. The event is seen as a symbolic move by China to portray itself as a peace broker in the Middle East. Analysts and Palestinians remain skeptical about the unity plan, as past efforts have failed to bridge the divide between the two factions. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has capitalized on the Hamas-Fatah division to thwart a Palestinian state, while Israel's foreign minister condemned Fatah's leader for the agreement, stating that it won't materialize. Amid this, Netanyahu indicated that conditions for a ceasefire deal with Hamas were improving. Simultaneously, the Israeli military continues its offensive in Gaza, leading to mounting casualties and strain on medical resources. In the midst of these developments, US Vice President Kamala Harris, who has voiced support for Palestinians in closed-door meetings, plans to meet with Netanyahu, underscoring the complex and multi-layered diplomatic dynamics at play in the region.