TEL AVIV – In preparation for its 25th anniversary celebrations Saturday, Hamas has unveiled a new logo replete with a long range rocket, a map of the entire state of Israel, the Dome of the Rock located on the Temple Mount and the word “liberation.”
The so-called military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, even posted a photo of a cake on Twitter decorated with icing in the image of the group’s 25th anniversary logo.
This year’s celebrations kick off in Gaza City Saturday with a host of Islamist singers, including the Lebanese band Waed. The main stage is currently being erected with a massive mock-up of what the terror group calls an M-75 rocket, or an upgraded rocket that can travel up to 75 kilometers.
The M-75 rocket, also featured on the new Hamas logo, was fired by the terror group at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during Israel’s operation in Gaza last month.
Hamas chieftain Khaled Meshaal has confirmed that he will visit Gaza for the anniversary celebrations, marking his first trip to the territory in 45 years.
“I am thrilled and proud that I will be returning to Gaza,” Meshaal told a Hamas website.
This year’s celebrations are clearly aimed at serving as a “victory” party for Hamas following the most recent round of confrontations, which ended in a U.S. and Egypt-brokered cease-fire.
Hamas annually celebrates its founding on Dec. 14, but this year decided to move the celebrations up to Dec. 8, which coincides with the anniversary of the start of the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising, in 1987.
