Feb 2 (Reuters) - The United States will hold a meeting of Middle East peace brokers on Friday, aiming to maintain sanctions on the Hamas-led government and revive stalled peace talks through moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Following is a chronology of key events since the Hamas Islamists won a parliamentary election in January: Jan 25, 2006 - Hamas defeats Abbas's long-dominant Fatah movement in an upset victory. March 29 - Hamas government sworn in after other factions including Fatah refuse to join. United States severs contact with the new government. April 7 - United States and European Union suspend aid to the Palestinian government. June 25 - Hamas militants and other gunmen launch raid into Israel from Gaza, killing two soldiers and capturing an Israeli conscript, Corporal Gilad Shalit. Three days later Israel invades Gaza. Sept 11 - Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh announce agreement to form a unity administration. Talks quickly founder over what the new cabinet's stance will be towards Israel and myriad other issues. Oct 1 - Worst internal Palestinian fighting in a decade kills nine Palestinians, raising fears of civil war. Nov 26 - Ceasefire in Gaza announced, ending five-month Israeli offensive that followed abduction of Shalit, who remains held by militants. Sporadic violence persists but truce still in effect. Nov 30 - Abbas says continued unity talks at a "dead end". Dec 16 - Abbas's calls for early elections, frustrated by he failure of unity government talks. The move triggers clashes between Fatah and Hamas which leaves at least six dead. Dec 20 - Fatah and Hamas agree to ceasefire after days of fighting. Dec 23 - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas hold first formal talks. Israel agrees to unfreeze $100 million in withheld tax funds. No breakthrough on freeing Palestinian prisoners or extending the Gaza truce to the West Bank. Jan 15 - On a visit to the region U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she will convene a three-way summit with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders for informal talks on how to set up a Palestinian state. Jan 21 - Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and Abbas fail to settle differences in Damascus talks on unity government. Jan 29 - A Palestinian suicide bomber kills three Israelis in the Red Sea resort of Eilat. Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claim joint responsibility for the bombing. Jan 30 - Fatah and Hamas agree to ceasefire after gunbattles leave at least 30 Palestinians dead. Feb 1 - Hamas gunmen ambush what it says was a convoy carrying military equipment to Abbas's presidential guard. Ceasefire shattered and triggers widespread clashes. Feb 2 - Fighting between Hamas and Fatah factions intensifies in Gaza, with Hamas overrunning compounds used by Abbas's security forces and Fatah setting the Islamic University ablaze. Abbas and Meshaal agree to meet next week in the holy Muslim city of Mecca at the invitation of the Saudi king.
