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Jan. 4, 2013 / 9:10 AM / Updated Jan. 4, 2013 at 10:39 AM

Fatah celebrates 48th anniversary

Palestinians take part in a rally marking the 48th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah movement, in Gaza City, on January 4, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians joined a rare rally staged by President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group in Gaza on Friday, as tensions ease with rival Hamas Islamists ruling the enclave since 2007. UPI/Ismael Mohamad

1 of 9 | Palestinians take part in a rally marking the 48th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah movement, in Gaza City, on January 4, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians joined a rare rally staged by President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group in Gaza on Friday, as tensions ease with rival Hamas Islamists ruling the enclave since 2007. UPI/Ismael Mohamad | License Photo

GAZA CITY, West Bank, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Thousands of Palestinians rallied Friday in Gaza City to celebrate the anniversary of Fatah for the first time since Hamas took over in 2007, officials said.

The rival Hamas movement allowed Fatah to celebrate the 48th anniversary as part of efforts to close the rift between the two sides, the BBC reported.

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The two groups pledged to strengthen their relationship in November after the U.N. General Assembly agreed to recognize Palestine as a non-member state, Voice of America reported.

Some Fatah officials said up to half a million supporters crowded the streets for the occasion, carrying yellow flags and photos of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

A pre-recorded message from Abbas was played at the rally, and a Hamas representative was expected to make a speech, the BBC reported.

"Palestine is for all of us, we are partners in this nation. Hamas cannot do without Fatah or Fatah without Hamas or any movement," Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said last month.

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