More than 60pc of Gaza residents report losing family members in bombardment: poll
A poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research has also found that nearly 80 per cent of Gaza residents say that at least one of their family members has been killed or injured in the current Israeli bombardment, Al Jazeera reports.
Nevertheless, two-thirds of the public support the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and nearly 80pc believe it has placed the Palestinian issue at the centre of global attention.
The survey explains: “It is important to note that support for this attack, as we will see later, does not necessarily mean support for Hamas and does not mean support for any killings or atrocities committed against civilians.
Support comes from another motive: findings show that more than 80pc of Palestinians believe that the attack has put the Palestinian issue at the centre of attention and eliminated years of neglect at the regional and international levels.“
The survey includes respondents from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip but does not include residents of the northern Gaza Strip who remained in their homes since the beginning of the bombardment due to the inability of researchers to reach them and the lack of reliable data on their numbers and whereabouts.
Findings indicate that two-thirds of the public expect Hamas to win the conflict on Gaza, but this percentage drops to only about half in the Gaza Strip. Also, only half of Gazans expect Hamas to return to controlling the Strip after the bombardment ends.
Demand for Palestinian Authority President Abbas’ resignation is increasing and the findings show a rise in the popularity of Hamas and Marwan Barghouti.
The survey also indicates a significant drop in the Gaza Strip in support for the two-state solution, while support for armed struggle rises and support for dissolving the PA stands at more than 60pc.