September 13, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most Palestinians reject this summer’s military takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 73 per cent of respondents in the Palestinian Territories oppose the group’s actions.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most Palestinians reject this summer’s military takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. 73 per cent of respondents in the Palestinian Territories oppose the group’s actions.

Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas won the January 2005 presidential ballot in the Palestinian Territories with 62.32 per cent of all cast ballots. In January 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council election, securing 74 of the 112 seats at stake. Ismail Haniyeh officially took over as prime minister in March. The Israeli government believes Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths of 377 citizens in a variety of attacks, which include dozens of suicide bombings.

In February, Hamas and Fatah leaders reached an accord which set the guidelines for a power-sharing Palestinian administration, headed by Hamas, which would "respect" past peace agreements with Israel. In June, amid a wave of violent clashes between Palestinian supporters of the Hamas and Fatah factions, Hamas militants seized control of Gaza. Abbas issued a decree to form a 12-member emergency government—based in the West Bank—and expelled Hamas from the administration.

On Sept. 7, Fatah supporters in Gaza took to the streets defying a Hamas ordinance that banned public protests. Following violent clashes between members of the two groups and reported attacks on journalists by Hamas security forces, Abbas condemned the situation, saying, "We have received a steady stream of reports describing physical intimidation and arrests of journalists. These incidents have occurred in different places and at different times suggesting a coordinated policy by Hamas security forces. (...) These are dark ages and this can’t continue. They are digging their own graves."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose Hamas’ military takeover in Gaza?

Support	22%
Oppose	73%
Not sure	5%

 

Source: Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research

Methodology: Face-to-face interviews to 1,270 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from Sept. 6 to Sept. 8, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.