An opinion poll among Palestinians showed a rise in support for the Palestinian resistance movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip, which is subject to continued Israeli aggression, while showing overwhelming rejection of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, with nearly 90% saying he should resign.
According to the results of the poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ramallah, “support for Hamas in the West Bank has increased three times what it was before the war.”
According to the poll conducted a few days ago and whose results were announced on Wednesday, nearly 70% of the Palestinians demanded the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority, and 90% of the Palestinians believed that President Abbas should resign.
The poll also showed a high percentage of support for armed action to confront the occupation, as more than 60% of the Palestinians surveyed believe that “resistance is the best way to end the occupation.”
Regarding the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, on October 7, the vast majority of respondents in the West Bank and Gaza expressed that the decision to attack was correct, and 72% of those surveyed said that they supported Al-Aqsa Flood.
64% of respondents opposed the Palestinian Authority’s participation in meetings with the United States and other Arab countries to discuss the future of the Gaza Strip after the war, and 60% of them said that they preferred Hamas’ rule to remain in the Gaza Strip after the war.
The survey results indicate widespread frustration with the international community, especially the United States, major European countries, and even the United Nations, which has pressed for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The results also indicate more difficulties facing US President Joe Biden’s administration’s vision for Gaza after the war, and raise questions about “Israel’s stated goal of ending Hamas’ military and governance capabilities.”
Washington called on the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, currently led by Abbas, to eventually assume control of Gaza and administer the two regions in preparation for establishing a state. American officials said that the Palestinian Authority must be revitalized, without revealing whether that would mean changes in leadership.
It is noteworthy that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads the most right-wing government in the history of Israel, strongly rejects any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, and insists that Israel must maintain open security control there.
Arab allies of the United States have said they will not participate in post-war reconstruction unless there is a credible push toward a two-state solution, which is unlikely under a Netanyahu government dominated by opponents of a Palestinian state.