(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A majority of residents of the Gaza Strip and West Bank are in favour of reaching a ceasefire with Israel, according to a poll by An-Najah National University. 62.3 per cent of respondents support the government's call on Palestinian armed factions to return to a truce with Israel.

Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas won the January 2005 presidential ballot 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.

On Feb. 8 in Saudi Arabia, 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. The new coalition government was sworn in on Mar. 17.

This month, Hamas militants have launched more than 200 rockets into Israel. The Israeli government has retaliated with air strikes targeting suspected compounds and businesses that allegedly transfer money to Hamas.

On May 24, the Israeli government announced the arrest of 33 Palestinians, including education minister Nasser Eddin al-Shaer. Following the arrests, Abbas called for an end to hostilities, saying, "We don't need these futile firings of rockets and they have to cease so that we can reach a reciprocal truce with the Israelis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the government's call on Palestinian factions to return to a truce with Israel?

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