(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people living in the Gaza Strip are against a recent armed conquest by Hamas in that part of the Palestinian Territories, according to a poll by Near East Consulting. 69 per cent of respondents believe Hamas' takeover of Gaza last month was wrong.

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.

On Jun. 14, 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 Jul. 16, United States president George W. Bush called for an international conference on the Middle East hoping it will lead to the eventual birth of a Palestinian state. Among other things, Bush asked world leaders to endorse Abbas and reject Hamas, saying, "By supporting the reforms of Abbas and (new Palestinian prime minister Salam) Fayyad, we can help them show the world what a Palestinian state would look like and act like. We can help them prove to the world, the region and Israel that a Palestinian state would be a partner, not a danger."

Polling Data

Is the Hamas takeover of Gaza last month right or wrong?

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