Key facts
- 72% of Palestinians oppose Hamas disarming before a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- A majority fear Israel would resume hostilities if Hamas surrendered its weapons.
- 79% of Palestinians want PA President Mahmoud Abbas to resign.
- Marwan Barghouti is the most preferred successor to Abbas.
- 24% of Palestinians trust the US-backed Gaza plan's oversight board.
A new survey reveals that a significant majority of Palestinians, 72 percent, are against Hamas disarming before Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The poll, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, suggests that Palestinians fear Israel would resume its military actions and not fully withdraw if Hamas were to surrender its weapons.
The findings also highlight deep dissatisfaction with the current Palestinian leadership. A striking 79 percent of respondents expressed a desire for Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to resign, a sentiment that has remained consistently high over the past three years. Furthermore, 83 percent believe corruption is present within PA institutions, and 65 percent view the authority as a burden rather than a national asset.
Despite the widespread desire for change in leadership, Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian leader imprisoned by Israel, emerged as the preferred successor to Abbas, garnering 39 percent of support. In a hypothetical presidential election scenario, Barghouti secured 54 percent of the vote, significantly ahead of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and Abbas himself.
The survey also touched upon the pervasive sense of insecurity among Palestinians, with 76 percent reporting that they and their families feel unsafe. Trust in the US-backed Gaza plan, overseen by the 'Board of Peace,' is low, with only 24 percent expressing confidence and 66 percent distrusting it. In the West Bank, 87 percent fear displacement due to expanding Israeli settlements. Palestinians also show skepticism about whether removing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lead to substantial policy changes, with many expecting policy to remain the same or worsen.