Israel summons Fatah leaders to warn against anniversary activities in Jerusalem

Israeli authorities on Thursday gathered a number of Fatah leaders and members in occupied East Jerusalem to appear before Israel's intelligence ahead of the 57th anniversary of the first militant attack by the Palestinian movement.

The Fatah leaders and members were handed orders warning them against organising any events to commemorate the launch of the movement in the city, according to the Palestinian Authority's news agency, Wafa.

Fatah was founded in 1959 mostly by exiled Palestinians who resided in the Gulf, especially Kuwait. Among its co-founders was Yasser Arafat. During the Arab League Summit in 1964, Palestinian groups including Fatah came together to create the Palestine Liberation Organisation, an umbrella group meant to represent all Palestinians.

On 1 January 1965, Fatah launched its first commando attack against Israel, setting the ground for the start of the armed struggle for Palestine's liberation.

Fatah considers itself a centre-left party, and is currently led by 86-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, whose presidency expired in 2009.

The group has had multiple militant wings, which were dissolved following the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. The group used to be a designated terrorist organisation under Israeli law and was considered terrorist by the United States Department of State and the United States Congress until it renounced militancy in 1988.

Analysts say the party's rival factions include supporters of Abbas's long-time rival Mohammed Dahlan, who currently lives in exile in the UAE. Dahlan's public supporters have been dismissed from Fatah.

Rallies to mark the 57th anniversary of armed resistance were held in the occupied West Bank towns of Nablus and Ramallah on Thursday.