Tens of thousands of Palestinians have massed in Gaza for a rally marking the 25th anniversary of Hamas to be addressed by the ruling movement’s leader in exile. Light rain in the early morning of Saturday did not deter thousands of Gazans from turning out well before the noon (10:00 GMT) start of the main event in the Al-Qatiba complex west of Gaza City. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal is due to join the rally to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hamas Movement and the start of the first Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, against Israel in December 1987. His speech is likely to focus on Hamas’s growing stature in the Arab world and reconciliation with its secular political rival, Fatah. “Meshaal’s speech will outline the priorities of the Hamas movement in the coming future, and especially the implementation of reconciliation (with Fatah),” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. Meshaal, 56, who is on his first-ever visit to the Gaza Strip and the first to Palestine in 37 years, was moved to tears on Friday by the ecstatic reception he received from flag-waving crowds as he toured the tiny territory, which is home to 1.7 million Palestinians. His trip comes just two weeks after Hamas fought an eight-day conflict with Israel that left some 170 Palestinians and six Israelis killed and ended with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. The security forces were out in strength, closing off nearby roads from the early hours.
Dozens of masked members of Hamas military wing the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades kept watch from surrounding rooftops.
