Palestinians are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hamas, the group that runs the Gaza Strip.<br/> <br />The gathering was being led by exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, making his first ever visit to the war-torn territory.<br/> <br />He received a hero's welcome when he arrived on Friday, two weeks after bloody clashes between Hamas and Israel left some 170 Palestinians dead.<br/> <br />A Hamas spokesman called Meshaal appearance a challenge to Israel, saying "Gaza is free and will decide who will visit the strip."<br/> <br />The ceremony will be attended by members of Fatah, which lost control of Gaza during a 2007 civil war.<br/> <br />It raised hopes among Palestinians that the two factions may ready to bury the hatchet.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF HEBRON, HANI ABU HAYKAL, SAYING:<br/> <br />"His visit is due to the victory of the resistance and I hope it will lead to national and religious unity between the two parts of the country."<br/> <br />Along with the Hamas anniversary, the rally Saturday commemorates the start of the first Palestinian uprising, or initifada, against Israel.
