Leaders of rival Palestinian factions displayed rare unity yesterday as they marked their "day of catastrophe" or nakba at a rally in Gaza, raising hopes of reconciliation between the two bitter rival parties. It was the first time leaders from Islamist Hamas and the more secular Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had shared the platform at a large public gathering since Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from Fatah in a 2007 civil war. Palestinians mark "nakba day" on May 15, the day in 1948 when Israel declared statehood after which 700,000 Arabs fled or were expelled in the war that ensued. The rally coincided with reports of serious talks between Hamas and Fatah to find ways to resolve their differences. Top Palestinian businessman Munib al-Masri, who has been heavily involved in recent mediation efforts, expressed cautious optimism, saying "the coming days may result in a positive outcome but we should not expect too much."