(Image Source: Al Jazeera ) BY JOHN O’CONNOR ANCHOR CANDICE AVILES Tens of thousands of Fatah supporters have taken to the streets of Gaza to celebrate the Palestinian group’s 48th anniversary. The BBC has more . “Waving their distinctive yellow flags, tens of thousands of Fatah supporters came from across Gaza for the unprecedented rally in the heart of Gaza City. It’s been at least six years since anything has been allowed to be staged like this in Gaza.”   According to Al Jazeera , Hamas allowed the event to happen despite ongoing tensions between the two Palestinian political factions. “Hamas won elections here in 2006, and the next year pushed Fatah’s forces out of the strip. Hamas has always taken a harder line against Israel, while the more secular Fatah took part in peace talks.”   But a writer for the Wall Street Journal says typically icy relations between Fatah and Hamas have thawed recently following a November conflict with Israel and recent status upgrade within the United Nations.   “Hamas was allowed to hold its first West Bank rallies since the 2007 split in which Hamas seized Gaza and Fatah was left in control of the West Bank. Hamas returned the favor Friday by allowing the Fatah rally.”  The New York Times says the rally signifies an important move toward unity for Palestinians. “Though it is unclear if the two sides will ultimately overcome real differences, the show of unity creates a diplomatic quandary for the United States, which has urged Israel to return to negotiations with the Palestinians, but has pushed to exclude Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization.”   According to Reuters, Egyptian leaders plan to invite both factions for diplomatic talks in the next two weeks.