GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Fatah's 48th anniversary celebrations will take place in Gaza on January 1, a party official said Saturday.

Yahya Rabah told Ma'an that celebrations would take place in al-Katiba square, the same place where Hamas celebrated its 25th anniversary last week.

Hamas granted the party permission to hold anniversary celebrations but Fatah officials in Gaza are still waiting for written approval, Rabah added.

Fatah has invited Hamas leaders and Gaza government officials to join the celebrations.

Fatah, or 'conquest' in Arabic, was founded in 1965 by late President Yasser Arafat and has long been the dominant force in Palestinian politics and a cornerstone in the nationalist struggle.