A recent poll reveals that a significant portion of the Palestinian population endorses Hamas and perceives the group's brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as justified.
This sentiment presents a challenge to President Donald Trump's efforts to "deradicalize" Gaza and implement reforms within the Palestinian Authority.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research indicates that 53 percent of Palestinians support Hamas's actions on October 7, an increase from 50 percent in May. Additionally, 60 percent express satisfaction with Hamas's overall performance.
The poll highlights that support for Hamas is particularly strong in the West Bank, where 66 percent approve of the group, compared to 51 percent in Gaza. If elections were held today, Hamas would likely dominate both presidential and parliamentary contests. Khaled Mashal, a senior Hamas leader, would surpass Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas by a margin of 63 to 27 percent, while Hamas would secure 44 percent of the legislative vote against Fatah's 30 percent.
The poll also reveals a growing allegiance to Hamas over the past two years, with 19 percent of respondents indicating their support for the group has increased significantly. These findings emerge as President Trump endeavors to transform Gaza into a "deradicalized terror-free zone" that poses no threat to its neighbors, while advocating for changes within the Palestinian Authority. His recent peace initiative has led to a ceasefire and the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages.
Reports have consistently highlighted Hamas's role in radicalizing Gaza's civilian population. Former Israeli hostage Tal Shoham recently disclosed that his captors were not soldiers but ordinary Palestinian civilians. "One of the guards was a first-grade teacher, another was a lecturer at a university, and another was a doctor," Shoham stated. "These are normal people becoming terrorists." The Washington Free Beacon reported that Palestinian civilians played a role in executing the October 7 attack.
While Hamas operatives donned uniforms and wielded military-grade weapons, Gazan sympathizers, dressed as civilians and mostly unarmed, followed them into Israel, contributing to a "second wave of carnage that rivaled the barbarism of the professional terrorists."
Further corroborating these accounts, other former Israeli hostages have confirmed the involvement of ordinary Gazans in the hostage-taking on October 7. The Washington Free Beacon reported in January 2024 that "unarmed teens helped to abduct Jews from their homes on Oct. 7, while Gazan women and children held some of the Israelis captive."
The poll's findings underscore the complexities President Trump faces in his mission to foster peace and stability in the region. As support for Hamas continues to rise, the challenge of deradicalizing Gaza and reforming the Palestinian Authority remains a formidable task.
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