Most residents of the Gaza Strip are afraid to openly express their political views following Hamas' takeover of the area in June, according to a poll released Wednesday, the latest sign of public discontent with Gaza's Hamas rulers.
Hamas gunmen step on PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's portrait in the passport processing area of the terminal at the Rafah Border Crossing now controlled by Hamas, near Rafah.
Photo: AP
The poll found that a majority of Gazans oppose rocket attacks on Israel, favor a peace agreement with the Jewish state, and do not consider the Hamas authority in Gaza to be the legitimate Palestinian government. It also concluded that Hamas would lose elections if a new vote were held today.
The poll was conducted by Near East Consulting, a research firm based in the West Bank. The firm said it surveyed 470 Palestinians in Gaza by telephone on September 25-27. It did not give a margin of error.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in mid-June after routing forces loyal to PA President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement. Abbas responded by forming a pro-Western government in the West Bank.
According to the survey, 58 percent of respondents said they are now afraid to express their political views following the Hamas takeover, and 60% say Hamas's paramilitary police, known as the Executive Force, has done a poor job respecting individual rights.
It also found 52% of respondents consider Abbas's government to be the legitimate Palestinian ruling authority, while only 26% favor the Hamas government led by Ismail Haniyeh. Sixty-four percent said they trust Abbas, compared with 36% who trust Fatah.
In another blow to Hamas, 72% said they support a final peace agreement with Israel, and 55% called on Hamas to change its position toward Israel.
Nearly three-quarters said they support Abbas' call for new elections - a position opposed by Hamas. It said 42% would vote for Fatah, with just 15% support for Hamas.
Since the Hamas takeover, the international community has welcomed Abbas's government, while pushing Hamas into deep isolation.
In the poll, 86% said they are worried about the state of affairs in Gaza, and 47% said they are thinking of emigrating. In comparison, 33% said they were considering emigration a month earlier.
