Thousands of Gazans gather for Hamas anniversary

Gaza City: Tens of thousands of Hamas loyalists are gathering in a Gaza City arena to celebrate the group's 21st anniversary.

Sunday's rally is another show of strength by the group that have ruled Gaza since a violent takeover in June 2007.

The arena can hold about 150,000 people and is full, with more people spilling out into the streets. Many Hamas supporters are wearing baseball caps in the movement's Islamic green.

Thousands of policemen are organising traffic on roads decked with green Hamas flags and plainclothes policemen are patrolling the area.

Senior Hamas leaders are expected to lay out the future of an Egyptian-mediate truce with Israel and its relations with rival Palestinian group Fatah, which rules the West Bank.