Hamas support plunges among Palestinians as Barghouti emerges as top Abbas successor - poll

Support for Hamas has plummeted among Palestinians, with a new poll indicating a sharp decline from 35% to 24% in just ten months. This drop, however, has not translated into greater backing for the Palestinian Authority. Instead, a broad distrust in Palestinian leadership is emerging, with 44% of respondents stating that neither Hamas nor Fatah under President Mahmoud Abbas deserves to lead. The findings, presented by Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR), suggest a wider crisis of confidence in the Palestinian political system. While Hamas and Fatah now show equal support at 24% each, third parties collectively garner 18% among potential voters. The poll points to a growing preference for negotiations over armed struggle ahead of legislative elections scheduled for November 28. Shikaki noted that the decline in Hamas support is particularly pronounced in the West Bank, dropping from 32% to 18%, while in Gaza it fell from 41% to 33%. He attributed the initial surge in support for Hamas after October 7, especially in the West Bank, not to ideological alignment but to the perception of Hamas actively confronting Israel amid anger over Israeli policies and settler violence. The latest data indicate a reversal of this trend, with only 20% now believing Hamas won the Gaza conflict, down from 39% previously.

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The most dramatic finding has to do with the fact that Hamas has lost significant support from the Palestinian public.