Palestinian support for Hamas drops 10%, Barghouti receives most support as next leader - poll

A new poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research shows Hamas support dropping from 35% to 24% over 10 months, while Fatah remains at 24%. Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti leads as preferred successor to Mahmoud Abbas, with 39% support. Negotiations are now favored by 44% of Palestinians, up from 36%, while support for armed struggle fell to 27%.

A new poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, presented by director Khalil Shikaki, reveals a sharp decline in Palestinian support for Hamas, which fell from 35% to 24% over the past 10 months, bringing it level with Fatah at 24%. The decline is most pronounced in the West Bank, where Hamas support dropped from 32% to 18%, while in Gaza it fell from 41% to 33%. Shikaki attributed the post-October 7 surge in Hamas support to perceptions of active confrontation with Israel rather than ideological alignment, and noted that support is now reversing. Only 20% of respondents now believe Hamas emerged victorious from the Gaza war, down from 39% 10 months ago. Satisfaction with Hamas's wartime performance fell from 60% to 42%. However, 72% oppose Hamas disarming before a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The poll also shows a shift in preferred methods for achieving Palestinian objectives: negotiations are now favored by 44% (up from 36%), while support for armed struggle fell to 27% (from 41%). Support for a two-state solution based on 1967 borders stands at 56%. Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti leads as the preferred successor to Mahmoud Abbas, with 39% support, far ahead of Hamas's Khalil al-Hayya at 16% and Mohammed Dahlan at 15%. Shikaki described the dissatisfaction with both Fatah and Hamas as creating an opening for new parties and independent actors, particularly among younger Palestinians.