Thousands mark Hamas anniversary in Gaza

Tens of thousands of people gathered in central Gaza City on Saturday for a rally marking Hamas s 20th anniversary, as the group’s exiled leader said Palestinians were capable of launching a new uprising against Israeli occupation like the intifadas of 1987 and 2000.

six months after the Islamist movement seized control of the territory.

Waving green flags and banners, throngs of Palestinians poured into Katiba Square ahead of the rally at which dismissed Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and other officials were expected to speak.

The rally is set to be the largest show of defiance since the
Islamists seized control in Gaza in June, routing forces loyal to president Mahmud Abbas and further deepening the economic and political isolation of the coastal strip.

It comes just a month after a similar mass rally by Abbas's
Fatah movement ended in bloodshed when Hamas forces opened fire, killing several people.

Meanwhile, Hamas exiled leader Khaled Meshaal said in comments published on the movement's website Saturday that the Palestinians are capable of launching a new uprising against Israeli occupation like the intifadas of 1987 and 2000.

"Our people are capable of launching a third or fourth intifada until victory is ours," the Damascus-based Hamas chief said.

Meshaal admitted that his movement's 20th anniversary came amid "difficult circumstances and a painful situation for the besieged Palestinians in Gaza."

Israel closed Gaza to all but essential humanitarian supplies after Hamas's bloody seizure of power.

In September, Israel declared the territory a "hostile entity" and the following month began restricting fuel supplies, creating what the World Health Organization described on Monday as an "intolerable" humanitarian situation.

Israel, along with the European Union and the United States, regards Hamas as a terrorist organization.