Hamas has canceled its 17th anniversary rally over concerns that Israel could target leaders of the Islamic militant group in retaliation for a deadly attack on an army outpost in Gaza.
Hamas rallies are elaborate shows of force, with marching gunmen, displays of weapons and re-enactments of attacks on Israelis.
The decision to cancel Friday's rally comes at a time when Hamas is competing for power with rival factions, including the ruling Fatah movement.
Displays of popular support are crucial both during the run-up to the Jan. 9 election for Palestinian Authority president and the planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
The cancelation came a day after the interim Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, said the armed uprising was a mistake and must end. Abbas, a pragmatist who opposes violence, is trying to negotiate a cease-fire with Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in bombings and shootings in the past decade.
The Hamas rally was to be held at a large sports stadium in Gaza City. The group had already put up a stage, bought chairs and decorated the streets of Gaza City with posters of former leaders Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi, both assassinated by Israel in air strikes earlier this year.
Hamas sources said there was renewed concern about the safety of Hamas leaders after a Hamas activist in Damascus, Syria, narrowly escaped a car bomb attack Monday. Hamas and Syria blamed Israel, which declined comment.
In Gaza City, Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said Friday's rally was canceled "in view of Zionist threats to target the Palestinian masses" following a weekend bomb attack that killed five Israeli soldiers at a Gaza outpost.
In the attack, Hamas and members of a Fatah offshoot detonated 1.5 tons of explosives packed in a tunnel dug under the outpost. After the outpost bombing, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reportedly asked the military to step up targeted killings of militants involved in attacks on soldiers and settlers in Gaza.
Hamas leaders have increasingly gone underground since the assassination of Yassin in April, switching homes, cars and phones and avoiding public appearances.
AP