Palestinian poll shows a rise in Hamas support and close to 90% wanting US-backed Abbas to resign

A wartime opinion poll among Palestinians published on December 13 shows a rise in support for Hamas militants even in the devastated Gaza Strip, and an overwhelming rejection of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with nearly 90% saying he must resign.

As reported by AP, Washington has been calling for the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, currently led by Abbas, to eventually assume control of Gaza after the war and run both territories. 

The polls, conducted by Khalil Shikaki who runs the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, were conducted from Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 among 1,231 people in the West Bank and Gaza and provided insights about Palestinian views of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and other Gaza militants in southern Israel. Despite the devastation, 57% of respondents in Gaza and 82% in the West Bank believe Hamas was correct in launching the October attack, the poll indicated. A large majority believed Hamas’ claims that it acted to defend a major Islamic shrine in Jerusalem against Jewish extremists and win the release of Palestinian prisoners. Only 10% said they believed Hamas has committed war crimes, with a large majority saying they did not see videos showing the militants committing atrocities.

Overall, 88% want Abbas to resign, up by 10 percentage points from three months ago. In the West Bank, 92% called for the resignation of the octogenarian who has presided over an administration widely seen as corrupt, autocratic and ineffective.

At the same time, 44% in the West Bank said they supported Hamas, up from just 12% in September. In Gaza, the militants enjoyed 42% support, up slightly from 38% three months ago.

Shikaki said support for the PA declined further, with nearly 60% now saying it should be dissolved.