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Hamas supporters rallying Saturday in the Gaza Strip to mark the 20th anniversary of the organization's founding. (Reuters)
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At least 300,000 Gazans rally to mark Hamas' 20th anniversary
By News Agencies
Tags: Hamas, Fatah, terrorism 

At least 300,000 Palestinians rallied in Gaza City on Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of Hamas's founding, as deposed Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh promised Hamas would not succumb to international pressure.

The central square in Gaza City was awash with green flags and dozens of armed, masked men from the group's military wing patrolled. Some estimates put the crowd as high as 500,000.

"The message from you today is that Hamas and these masses will not yield before the sanctions," Haniyeh told the cheering onlookers. The crowd shouted in response, "To you, we come Haniyeh."
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"Today is the day of Jihad, resistance and uprising," he said. "Those who remain committed to the constant rights of their people, those who make an enemy of America and the Zionist occupation [Israel] gain popularity. This is Hamas."

Haniyeh lambasted the renewal of peace talks between Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' administration in the United States last month, warning they will not bring about a cessation of Israeli settlement construction or yield any other Israeli concessions.

"As for the fruits of the other track, the track of negotiations, normalization and bargaining, all can see that it is the consolidating of settlements ... injustice and oppression for the Palestinian people," Haniyeh said. "It is bitter fruits."

The Hamas leader warned Abbas against conceding in peace talks on the Palestinian demand that refugees who fled past wars with Israel and their descendants be allowed to return to their homes. Their fate is a key sticking point in the talks that are meant to iron out a final peace agreement.

"There is no such thing as a just solution to the right of return," Haniyeh said. "It is the right of every refugee ... to return to the land."

Meshal: Palestinians can launch more intifadas
Hamas' Damascus-based political leader Khaled Meshal threatened Saturday to launch a new intifada against Israel, warning in a 20th anniversary message to Hamas TV that Hamas would not abandon violence.

"This is our real choice, our trump card, which causes the enemy to succumb to us," he said. "Our people are able to launch a third and fourth uprising until the dawn of victory arrives."

Meshal said Abbas, who controls the West Bank, does not have the mandate to negotiate with Israel.

Addressing the rally, senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri warned Israel to expect many casualties if Israel Defense Forces troops launch a major operation in the coastal territory in an attempt to stop almost daily rocket fire by militants at Israel.

"Jews, go back, because we have already dug graves for you," Masri said. Israel carries out regular raids on Gaza and has killed dozens of militants in the past month.

This week, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said a major incursion into was becoming more likely. "We will come to the point where we will have to carry out the big operation," he said.

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."

"This is the real referendum on the popularity of resistance, the people converging behind Hamas," said Zayed Herzallah, a 28-year old merchant, who brought a van full of young relatives. "Hamas today, after 20 years and after thousands of martyrs, is graduating the fourth generation (of supporters)."

In the crowd were about 50 female members of Hamas' military wing, dressed in long robes and sporting military-style ammunition vests. Some covered their faces with veils, others with ski masks. Several took to the stage, waving green Hamas flags.

Hamas says PA detained 26 of its supporters in West Bank
Also Saturday, Hamas said Palestinian security forces loyal to Abbas had arrested 26 of its supporters in the West Bank.

"The Palestinian security forces continued the detention campaign that targets Hamas supporters in various cities in the West Bank," Hamas said in a statement faxed to the press.

The statement added that most of the detainees were arrested in the town of Qalqilya.

"The arrests are meant to prevent Hamas from marking its 20th anniversary," the statement said.

Hamas' anniversary rally comes amid heightened tensions between the two main Palestinian factions. On Friday, Hamas police arrested Omar Al-Ghoul, an adviser to Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad, and seized some of his belongings.

Al-Ghoul was the most senior Fatah politician to be detained since Hamas forces overtook the territory in June.

Also Friday, three people were killed in a mysterious explosion at a Fatah-organized funeral in Gaza City. Witnesses said a man carrying explosives in a jacket accidentally detonated them, while Hamas security said a member of the procession threw a pipe bomb.

Fatah quickly accused Hamas of being behind the explosion, and the Ramallah government announced Saturday a national day of mourning. Hamas denied involvement, and issued orders to question another senior Fatah official in Gaza, Ibrahim Abu Naja, accusing him spreading the rumors. As of Saturday, Abu Naja was not in detention.

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  • Haniyeh: Gaza funeral blast part of Fatah conspiracy to sow chaos
  • Top Fatah official abducted by Hamas gunmen in Gaza Strip
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      1.   Hamas` trump card 15:56  |  William 15/12/07
      2.   Hamas want it all 15:57  |  dovale 15/12/07
      3.   Lets destroy islam 16:19  |  Truth 15/12/07
      4.   And They Get a State? 16:30  |  Robert 15/12/07
      5.   So much for peace Mr. bush 16:31  |  ottomatik 15/12/07
      6.   Congratulations Hamas 16:33  |  John 15/12/07
      7.   Well done Hamas (sarcastic) 16:56  |  Steven 15/12/07
      8.   Palestinians` appetite for intifada 17:03  |  Mike 15/12/07
      9.   2nd Try,Mishal makes 3 valid points: 17:18  |  lakshmi 15/12/07
      10.   "One Democratic Palestine" 17:19  |  Martin 15/12/07
      11.   they will launch intifada while behind security walls? hahaa 17:22  |  Richard S 15/12/07
      12.   Don`t talk, just do it 17:23  |  Hamasnik are sissies 15/12/07
      13.   How odd! 17:42  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 15/12/07
      14.   Hamas 17:49  |  Roland 15/12/07
      15.   7Steven,not at the rate at which israel is going! 17:57  |  lakshmi 15/12/07
      16.   Hamas: don`t worry Israel, we`ll bury ourselves 18:02  |  Joe Sittizen 15/12/07
      17.   it`s hard to INFATAH in the dark with no fuetime to cut the power 18:30  |  dav zee 15/12/07
      18.   Lets destroy so called `Truth` 18:33  |  David 15/12/07
      19.   Hamas wants everything or die 18:39  |  Nora 15/12/07
      20.   The PalArabs should wait 18:45  |  Ricardo 15/12/07
      21.   Own worst enemy as usual 18:49  |  Schlash 15/12/07
      22.   May the jihadists continue kill themselves 18:54  |  Gina 15/12/07
      23.   Hamas is like a cancer to the Palestinian children 19:04  |  The Equalizer 15/12/07
      24.   Lakfool 19:15  |  Oddvark 15/12/07
      25.   Equitable & practical Partition Plan that may work for a change: 19:21  |  Uzi 15/12/07
      26.   hamas, the killers 19:25  |  Edifice 15/12/07
      27.   Hamas and Palestinians Death March 19:43  |  Larry 15/12/07
      28.   # 3, the delusions of Islam are well rooted. It would take 19:47  |  Virginia 15/12/07
      29.   The reason why Hamas is internationally ignored 19:52  |  Gina 15/12/07
      30.   # 10 Lakshmi 19:53  |  Dan 15/12/07
      31.   Hamas, Why are you calling for the blood of your own? Why is the 19:54  |  ??? 15/12/07
      32.   Intifada a "trump card"?? Will they play bridge for money? 19:59  |  Dr. L. Brnd 15/12/07
      33.   Lakshmi Sings: Denial Isn`t A River In Egypt 20:00  |  Tex 15/12/07
      34.   That`s A Lot of Hamas 20:00  |  Jane 15/12/07
      35.   May they be martyred swiftly and ruthlessly 20:03  |  Gina 15/12/07
      36.   #3 Truth Destroying Islam 20:09  |  Jax 15/12/07
      37.   Hamas Rally 20:17  |  Edward 15/12/07
      38.   channel all that into peace, but how? 20:18  |  dav zee 15/12/07
      39.   Yassin etc. 20:35  |  Michael 15/12/07
      40.   Let`s check the facts 20:45  |  brad 15/12/07
      41.   The Truth will set you free, Why not post my prior post? 20:45  |  Virginia 15/12/07
      42.   Hooray for Hamas 20:46  |  Johanes Franzen 15/12/07
      43.   There can never be separate Arab polity west of the Jordan! 20:48  |  Uzi 15/12/07
      44.   3rd Try,Mishal has made 3 valid points: 20:51  |  lakshmi 15/12/07
      45.   300, 000 Hamas suporters- Qassams too. 21:04  |  Vital 15/12/07
      46.   PROVOCATION HAS A LIMIT 21:06  |  BOB KING THE ZIONIST 15/12/07
      47.   For Johanes Franzen, wishing you a Happy New Year 21:06  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 15/12/07
      48.   The Arabs must make very painful concessions for real peace! 21:09  |  Uzi 15/12/07
      49.   Gaza`s silent majority 21:18  |  Nora 15/12/07
      50.   For Lakshmi?s 3 valid points ? some alternative reasoning 21:20  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 15/12/07
      51.   Johanes Franzen # 42 21:22  |  Philippe 15/12/07
      52.   Zionists,amusing to see you all whistling in the dark! 21:23  |  lakshmi 15/12/07
      53.   to nora 21:33  |  me 15/12/07
      54.   Israel`s "Toothache" - Unyielding Hamas Resistance 21:35  |  chet 15/12/07
      55.   hamas 21:36  |  hamas 15/12/07
      56.   30 Dan, to answer your question:I come at this problem from a 21:39  |  lakshmi 15/12/07
      57.   No peace with Pals, no recognition of Palestine, no negotiations 21:40  |  Artie 15/12/07
      58.   lakshmi -- you neglected the fourth and fifth points 21:48  |  Gina 15/12/07
      59.   . .contd. 30 Dan. . which is the only legally authorised border 21:50  |  lakshmi 15/12/07
      60.   Farfur will eat your children .... 21:53  |  GZLives 15/12/07
      61.   al m`sri 21:53  |  santa clausstein 15/12/07
      62.   chet 21:55  |  Gina 15/12/07
      63.   Hamas -- don`t you mean? 21:58  |  Gina 15/12/07
      64.   another hamas rally 22:04  |  DesertEagle50 15/12/07
      65.   Gazans Need a Whippin Big Time and soon 22:11  |  Dave Levy 15/12/07
      66.   chet, who said it all! 22:13  |  bernard 15/12/07
      67.   Bomb THE RALLY! 22:21  |  Mark Hamil 15/12/07
      68.   do you think condi was watching from annapolis ? 22:22  |  victor hardman 15/12/07
      69.   Happy birthday Hamas....... 22:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/07
      70.   Hello!, This is Earth to Lakshmi,...planet Earth to Lakshmi?!... 22:38  |  akiva (zionist) 15/12/07
      71.   A solution! 22:47  |  D 15/12/07
      72.   Uzi # 25 23:15  |  Philippe 15/12/07
      73.   Dr. L. Brnd # 32 23:18  |  Philippe 15/12/07
      74.   "cheap" Palestinian Burial Shouds for sale 23:22  |  l.K.Wong 15/12/07
      75.   to #3 : lets destriy islam 23:30  |  a better truth 15/12/07
      76.   Nora, YOU are wrong 23:31  |  Suzan from West Bank 15/12/07
      77.   TO MIKE NO 8. 23:46  |  DANNY 15/12/07
      78.   LAKSHMI. 23:49  |  DANNY. 15/12/07