Candidates have been making a final appeal to Palestinians for their support on the last day of official campaigning before the elections. In Gaza, parties held their final pre-election rallies, Islamist challenger Hamas in the central town of Dair al-Balah and ruling party Fatah in front of the late Yasser Arafat's home.Fatah's campaign strategy during the past month has focused on highlighting the historical accomplishments of the group, such as launching and leading the decades-old struggle for Palestinian statehood. The group's armed wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which has been responsible for a spate of kidnappings in Gaza in recent weeks, held a military rally of its own, despite vows by Samir Mashharawi, Fatah's political leader, that there would be no armed demonstrations in the run-up to elections. Against a background of machine-gun fire, they called for unity in the ranks and the freedom of political prisoners, while making several verbal jabs at Hamas. Abu Thair, the group's spokesman, said the Brigades would never disarm and that they would continue their resistance against Israel, while Salah al-Hajjaj, Brigades leader, appeared to a standing ovation from the crowd of mainly young people.