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Palestinian Public Opinion Polls: Public Opinion After Operation Protective Edge

(Updated September 2015)

Do you think that the reconciliation government, or Hamas should be put in charge of reconstruction of the Gaza Strip?
(PCPSR, September 2015)

 
Total
Reconciliation government
48%
Hamas
30%
Don't know/No answer
22%

After the war over Gaza Strip, who do you think is the winning side? Israel, Hamas, Israel and Hamas, or neither Israel nor Hamas?
(JMCC, August, 2015)

 
Total
West Bank
Gaza Strip
Israel
15%
10.1%
23.1%
Hamas
40%
44.2%
33.1%
Israel and Hamas both
2.7%
2.9%
2.2%
Neither
37.4%
36.8%
38.2%
Don't know
4.9%
6%
3.4%

Who do you think is most responsible for the slow pace of reconstruction in Gaza?
(The Washington Institute, July 2015)

 
West Bank
Gaza Strip
Israel
48.7%
29.3%
Hamas
6.8%
39.9%
The Palestinian Authority
10.3%
20%
The U.N.
21.2%
5.2%
Egypt
8.8%
4.9%
Don't know
4.1%
.7%

Do you still support the launching of rockets and mortars into Israeli territory until the blockade is lifted?
(Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, March 2015)

 
Total
Yes, I support the launching of rockets and mortars at Israel until the blockade is lifted
68%
No, I do not support the continued rocket and mortar fire at Israel
30%

In your opinion, did Hamas win this past summer's Gaza War?
(Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, March 2015)

 
Total
Yes, Hamas won the 2014 Gaza War
60%
Both sides came out of the 2014 Gaza War as losers.
24%

Now, nearly five months after the signing of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, do you think that the truce is serving more the interest of the Palestinian people, or the Israelis?
(Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, March 2015)

 
Total
The truce serves more the interests of the Palestinian people
33.2%
The truce serves more the interests of the Israelis
30.6%
The truce serves the interests of both parties
19.8%
Don't know/refuse to answer
16.4%

Do you support filing war crimes charges against Israeli leaders in the wake of Operation Protective Edge?
(Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, November-December 2014)

 
Total
Yes, Palestinians should try to levy war crimes charges against Israel.
83.3%
No, Palestinians should not file war crimes charges against Israel. 
6.3%
Don't know/decline to answer
10.4%

What is your opinion on firing rockets from Gaza into Israel?
(Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, November-December 2014)

 
Total
I favor that very much
29.8%
I favor that
29.8%
I am undecided about such actions
21.3%
I oppose such actions
5.1%
I strongly oppose such actions
5.6%
Don't know/decline to answer
8.4%

Do you believe that the Palestinian resistance was victorious during Operation Protective Edge?
(Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, November-December 2014)

 
Total
Yes, the Palestinian resistance was victorious during Operation Protective Edge
53.2%
No, the Palestinian resistance was not victorious during Operation Protective Edge
27.3%
Don't know/decline to answer
19.5%

Does Hamas firing rockets at Israel help achieve Palestinian goals?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Yes
No
Does Hamas firing rockets at Israel help achieve Palestinian goals?
61%
39%

Do you support negotiations with Israel?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Before Operation Protective Edge
After Operation Protective Edge
Do you support negotiations with Israel?
54%
52%

Do you support military operations against Israel?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Before Operation Protective Edge
After Operation Protective Edge
Do you support military operations against Israel?
31%
42%

In your opinion, did the recent Gaza War achieve the interests of the Palestinian people, or harm their interests?
(The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, October 2014)

 
Achieved the Palestinians interests
Harmed the Palestinians interests
Did the recent Gaza War achieve the interests of the Palestinians or harm their interests?
53%
21%

Trust in Palestinian actors before and after the war.
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Before Operation Protective Edge (April 2014)
After Operation Protective Edge (October 2014)
Hamas
16%
25%
Fatah
41%
35%
Mahmoud Abbas
25%
23%
Ismail Haniyeh
13%
17%
 


(September 2014)/ The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research

Findings of this special Gaza War poll highlight dramatic changes in public attitudes regarding major issues. It goes without saying that the war was the major DRIVER behind these changes. As expected, and as we saw in previous instances during and immediately after Israeli wars with Hamas, findings show a spike in the popularity of Hamas and its leaders and a major decline in the popularity of Fatah and president Abbas. But, as in previous cases, these changes might be temporary and things might revert in the next several months to where they were before the war. It is worth noting that the size of the change in favor of Hamas is unprecedented since 2006. Indeed, if presidential elections were to take place today, Ismail Haniyeh would easily win over Abbas and Hamas would win the largest percentage of the popular vote in parliamentary elections. The overwhelming majority of the public views Hamas as the winner and Israel as the loser in this war. Furthermore, a similar majority views Hamas’ approach of armed confrontation with Israel as the most effective means of ending Israeli occupation. Indeed, an overwhelming majority of West Bankers wants to transfer “Hamas’ way” to the West Bank and rejects the demand to disarm the Islamist group or to disband the other Gazan armed groups. Findings also indicate that the public see Iran, Turkey, and Qatar as the most instrumental in supporting Hamas and helping Gazans remain steadfast against the Israeli attacks. By contrast, Egypt’s role is seen as week and unhelpful. Indeed, a majority believes that Egypt played a negative role in the ceasefire negotiations. Finally, despite the fact that the Palestinian Authority, Abbas, and prime minister Rami al Hamdallah received little positive evaluation for their role during the war, a majority tends to give the reconciliation government a big role in the affairs of the Gaza Strip in the post war period. For example, a majority wants it to control border crossings and to supervise police and security sector employees; the largest percentage wants it to control borders with Israel and Egypt and to lead the reconstruction process in the Strip.

In your opinion, who won the recent Gaza War (Operation Protective Edge)?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
August 2014
September 2014
Hamas won the recent Gaza War
79%
69%
Israel won the recent Gaza War
3%
Neither side was the winner
17%
22%
 

In your opinion, does the cease-fire agreed to by both parties address and satisfy Palestinian interests?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
The cease-fire does address and satisfy Palestinian interests
63%
The cease-fire does not address or satisfy Palestinin interests
34%

In your opinion, should armed groups in the Gaza Strip such as Hamas be disarmed?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
August 2014
September 2014
Armed groups in Gaza should NOT be disarmed
57%
50%
Armed groups in Gaza should be disarmed but only after the Israel lifts the seige of Gaza and elections are held
25%
Armed groups in Gaza should be disarmed but only after reaching a peace agreement with Israel
13%
 

How would you describe Egypt's role in attempts at brokering a cease-fire?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
August 2014
September 2014
Positive
25%
21%
Negative
52%
57%
Neutral
22%
21%
 

Should the responsibility for the reconstruction of Gaza fall to the reconciliation government or Hamas?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
The reconstruction of Gaza should be handled by the reconciliation government.
44%
The reconstruction of Gaza should be handled by Hamas
39%
 

In your opinion what are the chances of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations starting up again?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Medium-High
47%
Low-Non Existent
51%
 

In your opinion what would be the best way to establish a soverign Palestinian state next to Israel?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Armed confrontation
53%
Negotiations
22%
Popular, non-violent resistance
20%
 

Approval ratings of Palestinian actors during the war.
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Approval Rating
Prime Minister Rami al Hamdallah
35%
The Palestinian Authority
36%
Mahmoud Abbas
39%
The Interim Reconciliation Government
43%
The PLO
44%
Khalid Meshaal
78%
Hamas
88%
 

Should rockets continue to be launched from within the Gaza Strip at Israel if Israel does not lift the blockade?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Yes, rockets should continue to be launched
80%
No, we should not launch rockets at Israel
20%
 

Is launching rockets from within populated areas in Gaza justified?
(The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, September 2014)

 
Total
Yes, launching rockets from populated areas is justified
57%
No, launching rockets from populated areas is not justified
39%
 

Sources: The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, The Jerusalem Post (October 29, 2014)