IN PICS | Palestinians hold rare gathering to mark death anniversary of Fatah founder Yasser Arafat

Crowds marched to Gaza City’s Katiba park, waving the yellow flags of Fatah, which Arafat founded in the 1960s. They also held photos of President Mahmoud Abbas’,  Arafat’s successor.

Arafat died under mysterious circumstances in 2004 at a hospital in France after two years of an Israeli siege on his West Bank headquarters. 

Palestinians accuse Israel of poisoning the Fatah founder however they have offered no proof. 

Palestinian schools in Gaza commemorate the 18th anniversary of Arafat's death. 

Fatah's rival Hamas does not easily let these demonstrations take place in Gaza. In 2007, a few months after taking over Gaza, Hamas attacked Arafat’s anniversary rally and killed six Palestinians.

In 2014, authorities prevented Fatah from holding another gathering. 

Here, a child is holding a Palestinian flag with a photo of Fatah founder Yasser Arafat on it.  

It is pertinent to note that due to Egyptian efforts to reconcile the Palestinian factions (Fatah and Hamas), in 2017, Hamas allowed Fatah to hold an Arafat celebration.

Thousands of Palestinians waved yellow flag in a show of solidarity towards the Fatah faction. 

Palestinian President Abbas'recorded speech was played during the rally. 

"The internal division with Hamas has taken our issue steps backwards ... and threatens to waste the gains made by the Palestinian people, the price of which was exorbitant sacrifices of the martyrs, prisoners and wounded," Abbas said.

A Palestinian girl holding yellow flag and wearing the Palestinian flag during the gathering in Gaza City. 

Last month, officials from Hamas and Fatah held a new round of reconciliation talks in Algeria and signed an outline for an agreement that would pave the way for elections.

But few are optimistic the factions can overcome their differences.