Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal makes his first visit to the Gaza Strip on Friday where he'll make a symbolic stop at the house of the group's founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, seen here.<br/> <br />As Hamas now celebrates its 25th anniversary, Palestinian analyst Jihad Harb says the movement has grown over the past few years.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN ANALYST, JIHAD HARB, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Hamas started to form a wide movement among Palestinians because of the historic legacy it took from the Muslim Brotherhood and also because of what it did in the first Intifada."<br/> <br />But he said they didn't start to play a big role until the 1990s when it began its militant acts and suicide bombings in Israeli cities.<br/> <br />The group then gained power by capitalising on dissatisfaction with rival faction Fatah.<br/> <br />Their victory in 2006 legislative elections came as a surprise to many.<br/> <br />And in 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in a brief war with forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.<br/> <br />Meshaal's Gaza visit comes after an eight-day battle between Israeli warplanes and Palestinian rockets last month.<br/> <br />Around 170 Palestinians were killed, mostly civilians, and six Israelis lost their lives.<br/> <br />But after the ceasefire, Hamas supporters celebrated in the streets.<br/> <br />Harb says the brief war marked a significant shift in the balance of power in the region, with Hamas showing new strength.
