Thousands rally in Gaza for 25th anniversary of Hamas Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal kooks at a poster depicting late Hamas military commander Ahmed Al-Jaabari pasted on the remains of the car that he was riding in when he was killed in an Israeli air strike, at Rafah Crossing, in southern Gaza Strip December 7, 2012. Meshaal is making his first-ever visit to the Gaza Strip amid tight security for festivities marking the ruling Islamist movement's 25th anniversary. UPI/Mohamed Al Ostaz/Palestinian PM Media GAZA, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Thousands of people gathered in Gaza Saturday for a festival marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Palestinian group Hamas, officials said. Hamas estimated attendance at the event was about half a million people, the Palestinian Ma'an News Agency reported. Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal, who arrived in Gaza Friday, was among those in attendance, as was Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The first speaker, a masked fighter representing Hamas' military wing, spoke about Hamas' late leader, Ahmed al-Jabari, who was killed Nov. 14 in an Israeli airstrike, sparking eight days of violence between Israel and Hamas. Peace on your pure soul, our leader Ahmed al-Jabari, when you carried the holy Koran in one hand and the rifle in the other. Peace on you Jerusalem the city of peace. Peace on you today and when our legions advance to you," he said. We defeated you [Israel] with only one tenth of our resistance fighters. We used only the missile launchers and a limited number of anti-aircraft fighters," he said, addressing Israeli leaders. Meshaal was scheduled to speak later at the event, the BBC reported. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement that Meshaal's speech would unveil future plans for Hamas and talk of reconciliation with its rival, Fatah.