Let me preface this by noting that I am skeptical of all political polls…and that I have exactly zero idea of how a poll of any kind could be taken in Gaza right now.
That said, here are some key findings from a poll of 668 Gazans conducted by the Arab World For Research And Development (AWRAD). Please pay particular attention to the findings I have put in bold print:
• 98% stated that they will never forget and will never forgive what Israel did and is continuing to
do during this war.
• 65% perceived the present war as a conflict targeting all Palestinians, while only 18% viewed it as
a war between Israel and Hamas. Other respondents believed: it is a war between Israel and
Muslims (5%); it is a war between Israel and Arabs (2%); or it is a conflict between the West and
the Arab-Muslim world (10%).
• Reasons cited for the October 7 attacks included: responding to oppression, particularly attacks
on Al Aqsa (35%), and addressing broader issues such as freeing Palestine, ending the occupation,
and stopping settlements (33%). Breaking the blockade of Gaza was cited as the main reason by
21% of respondents.
• A small percentage (6%) reported that the main reasons behind the war are related to regional
interests. This includes serving the interests of Iran (5%) and stopping the ongoing peace and
normalization process with Israel (1%).
• As illustrated below, the majority of (59%) strongly supported or (16%) supported to some extent the October 7 attacks carried by the Hamas-led factions, while 16% supported to some extent. 11% reported that they neither supported nor opposed the attack, while 13% expressed opposition to the attacks.
Strong support for the attacks was notably higher among Palestinians in the West Bank (68%) as compared to Gaza (47%).
Remember: Israel invaded Gaza only after the October 7th attacks.
The attacks, in which 1,200 – 1,400 Israeli civilians were slaughtered and over 200 others taken hostage, therefore, were not in retaliation for some action taken by Israel.
The exact opposite is true: Israel’s invasion was in retaliation for the slaughter performed by Gaza.
I say Gaza, not hamas, because if these data are anywhere near true, fully 3/4 of Gazans – 75% – supported the hamas slaughter of those Israeli civilians and the taking of those hostages – the majority of them women and children. In other words, the overt inhumanity of this slaughter/hostage taking was just fine with them.
And The world demands that Israel make peace with these people?
HOW?
