Tens of thousands of people rallied in central Gaza city on Saturday to mark the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas's 20th anniversary.Curiously, that little recap of Hamas history seems to neglect the social services aspect.
Waving green flags and banners, throngs of Palestinians poured into Katiba Square ahead of the rally at which the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and other officials were expected to speak.
Hamas television said that supporters streamed in from towns and villages all across the coastal territory, home to some 1.5 million people.
A huge banner reading "We Will Not Recognise Israel" was placed on the backdrop of the stage.
Senior Hamas member Saeed Siam told reporters that the massive turnout is the answer to those who say Hamas is losing ground.
Top Hamas Leader Mahmud al-Zahar said that "Our message to the world is that this movement cannot be destroyed."
"This celebration shows how in 20 years we have grown from a movement of 1,000 people to huge numbers," he told reporters.
After "twenty years of building... the roots (of Hamas) stretch into the heart of the nation and into every part of the land," Mushir al-Masri, a former parliamentarian told the crowd from the podium.
"Twenty years -- from the stone to the knife, from the bullet to the bomb, from the mortar to the rocket, and from the martyrdom operations to the tunnels of hell," he added.
Hamas's Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal said in comments published on the movement's website on Saturday that the Palestinians are capable of launching a new uprising against the Zionist regime's occupation like the Intifadas of 1987 and 2000.That possible "third or fourth Intifada" is the theme of another current IRIB headline.
"Our people are capable of launching a third or fourth Intifada until victory is ours," he added.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad
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