Thousands of Hamas supporters on Friday December 23 braved the rain in Gaza city to celebrate the 18th birthday of the creation of the Islamic Movement.

Descending on the city centre from all over the Gaza strip, Hamas members and supporters began amassing in the Square of the Unknown Soldier following the main Friday prayers.

Leaders of the faction were scheduled to address the crowd, which clutched hundreds of green Hamas flags, pictures of the movement's heroes and placards trumpeting its glory.

Taking advantage of the birthday celebrations, the gathering denounced "American and European interference" in Palestinian parliamentary elections due on January 25.

On December 16, the US congress backed a resolution asserting that Hamas should not be allowed to participate in elections until it recognises "Zionist Regime right to exist as a Jewish state".

Palestine-Hamas