BEIJING has brokered a historic deal to end the rift between Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah, Chinese state media reported today.

The deal between Fatah, Hamas and 12 other groups comes as Israel continues its assault on Palestinians in the devastated Gaza Strip.

China’s CCTV television announced that the two sides and other, smaller Palestinian factions had signed the Beijing Declaration on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity,” pledging to form a unity government for the Palestinian territories.