By IRNA
Gaza City : Hamas marked the 20th anniversary of its founding with a huge rally Saturday, sending a message of strength and resistance to liberate Palestine’s territories from Israeli occupation.
Tens of thousands of Hamas supporters took to the streets, waving green Islamic flags. Reporters estimated that the ralliers numbered over 250,000.
The large turnout on Saturday was seen as critical for the Hamas rival Fatah which is involved in talks with Israel after the so-called peace talks in Annapolis, Maryland.
Israeli has imposed blockade over the coastal strip since June virtually cutting off the Palestinians from the world.
The World Bank expressed concern about the current situation in Gaza as a result of Israeli restrictions.
Some 1.5 million Gazans have been driven deeper into poverty, the WB said calling for an end to Israeli restrictions.
Large pictures of Hamas leaders, both in Gaza and in exile, were draped across the speakers’ podium. A black banner hanging from a nearby building read, in Arabic, English and French: “We will not recognize Israel.”
In an anniversary message to Hamas TV, the group’s top leader in exile, Khaled Mashaal, said Hamas will not abandon resistance.
“This is our real choice, our trump card, which causes the enemy to succumb to us,” he said.
He said moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who controls the West Bank, does not have the mandate to negotiate with Israel.
“Our people are able to launch a third and fourth uprising until the dawn of victory arrives.”