A staggering 60% of Gaza’s population has lost at least one family member due to the ongoing conflict. Additionally, 80% of families have experienced the death or injury of at least one member due to Israeli airstrikes, according to a survey reported by Al Jazeera on Wednesday, June 12.
The survey further revealed that nearly 80% of Gaza’s residents believe the attack carried out by Hamas on Israel on October 7 last year was justified. They feel that the attack brought global attention to the rights and struggles of Gaza’s people, which were otherwise being ignored. Prior to this incident, the plight of Palestinians was being forgotten, with several Muslim-majority countries establishing diplomatic ties with Israel without ensuring Palestinian rights.
The survey included residents from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, although it couldn’t reach those in the northern Gaza region due to accessibility issues. But it is safe and obvious to say that their perception don’t differ in the face value in these cases.
Interestingly, two-thirds of the Palestinians surveyed believe that Hamas will ultimately emerge victorious in this conflict, although residents of Gaza itself are less optimistic about Hamas’s chances. Half of Gaza’s population thinks that if the Israeli attacks cease, Hamas will regain control over the region.
A significant portion of those surveyed expressed a desire for the resignation of the current Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. Meanwhile, support for Hamas and Marwan Barghouti is on the rise among Palestinians.
The survey highlighted that the people of Gaza no longer support the two-state solution. Instead, they endorse an armed struggle against the Israeli occupation. More than 60% of Palestinians want to see the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority (PA) led by Mahmoud Abbas.
This survey overall underscores the devastating impact of the conflict on Gaza’s families and reflects a significant shift in public sentiment towards armed resistance and political leadership within the Palestinian territories solely because of the Israeli actions done circling them.
