The government-organized rally is Abbas' most high-profile attempt yet to seek credit for the pullout.Tens of thousands of Palestinians crowded into Gaza City's small fishing harbor Friday to celebrate the impending Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, waving flags and hearing promises from their leader, Mahmoud Abbas, that the West Bank and Jerusalem will be next.
The government-organized rally under the theme "Setting Sail for Freedom" - the first mass celebration - was Abbas' most high-profile attempt yet to seek credit for the pullout, and defuse claims by political rival Hamas that its attacks have driven Israel out.
Abbas, surrounded by security guards, spoke briefly. "From here, from this place, our nation and our masses are walking toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Abbas told the crowd.
Yet tensions between Abbas and Hamas became apparent when Cabinet minister Mohammed Dahlan said the Palestinian flag must be the official banner at all celebrations. He did not refer to Hamas directly, but the militant group has said it plans its own military-style celebrations, and is sewing thousands of its own green banners.
"This era is the era of unity, and the era that will end any competition or disagreement," Dahlan told the crowd.
Rabiya Hissi, 52, came to the rally with her two grandchildren. As the wife of a fisherman, Hissi's family suffered for years due to army limitations on how far into sea Palestinians could fish.
"We have been waiting for this minute for ages," Hissi said. "We have been waiting for joy and peace in our streets instead of blood and fear. I hope that the future of the coming generations will be a promising one."
Hamas, meanwhile, invited TV cameramen for the first time to film about 1,000 militants training ahead of the pullout. The release of the pictures of militants rappelling from high-rise walls and jumping through hoops of fire was seen as a challenge to the Palestinian Authority.
But it was unclear whether the training - which included the infiltration and attack of a settlement - meant the militant group would fire on withdrawing troops and settlers, despite demands by the Palestinian leadership that they allow Israel to evacuate the area quietly.