THOUSANDS of masked Hamas gunmen marched in formation at a large victory rally in an empty Jewish settlement yesterday, the Islamic militant group’s latest show of strength since Israel completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Thousands of masked Hamas gunmen marched in formation at a large victory rally in an empty Jewish settlement today, the Islamic militant group’s latest show of strength since Israel completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

A senior Israeli defence official today challenged the Palestinian Authority to close the open border between Gaza and Egypt, saying its credibility was on the line over its failure to stop the flow of gunrunners and others across the frontier.