Middle East

Thousands rally in Gaza for anniversary of Hamas founding

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Masked Palestinian militants from the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, a military wing of Hamas, commemorate the 29th anniversary of their group, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of gunmen, rallied in Gaza in support of the militant Islamic group Hamas that rules the territory. Hamas overtook Gaza by force in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in bloody street battles. Palestinians have been divided since between Gaza under Hamas and Abbas governing parts of the West Bank. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (The Associated Press)

A masked Palestinian boy wears a uniform and holds a toy weapon during a rally to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of gunmen, rallied in Gaza in support of the militant Islamic group Hamas that rules the territory. Hamas overtook Gaza by force in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in bloody street battles. Palestinians have been divided since between Gaza under Hamas and Abbas governing parts of the West Bank. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (The Associated Press)

Masked Palestinian militants from the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, a military wing of Hamas, march next to a billboard with Arabic and Hebrew text that reads, "we are coming from under the ground," during a rally to commemorate the 29th anniversary of their group, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. Hamas overtook Gaza by force in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in bloody street battles. Palestinians have been divided since between Gaza under Hamas and Abbas governing parts of the West Bank. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (The Associated Press)

Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of gunmen, are rallying in Gaza in support of the militant Islamic group Hamas that rules the territory, on the 29th anniversary of its founding.

Khalil Al-Hayya, a Hamas official, delivered a fiery speech at the rally Wednesday full of rhetoric against Israel. He also called for reconciliation with the Fatah party, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — but only under Hamas' terms.

Hamas overtook Gaza in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Abbas in street battles. Palestinians have since been divided between Gaza under Hamas and Abbas governing parts of the West Bank.

Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas took over.

Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2007.