FATAH TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ESTABLISHMENT IN GAZA

Gaza, 8 Rabiul Awwal 1436/30 December 2014 (MINA) – The Fatah movement in the Gaza Strip on Saturday (27/12) said it was planning to hold celebrations on the 50th anniversary of the movement at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza this week.

The announcement comes after celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat in Gaza were cancelled in November, after a series of explosions targeted Fatah leaders in the Hamas-led coastal enclave.

The Fatah branch in Gaza called upon Palestinians in a statement to take part in “lighting the flame” for the movement in the square on Wednesday, Dec. 31, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The group said that all activities celebrating the anniversary of the establishment had been approved by Fatah’s central leadership.

The move comes less than a month-and-a-half after the explosions rocked the homes and cars of a number of Gaza officials, causing no injuries but shaking confidence in the unity government between the two groups.

Some Fatah officials blamed Hamas as having direct or indirect responsibility for the attacks, but Hamas denied responsibility and condemned the incident, calling it a “criminal act.”

Fatah and Hamas signed a unity deal in April, and in June the West Bank and Gaza were brought together under a national consensus government of independent technocrats. (T/P010/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)