Palestinians Reject Hamas Disarmament Before Full Is
A new Palestinian opinion poll shows strong opposition to Hamas disarming before Israel fully withdraws from the Gaza Strip.
According to the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 72 percent of respondents believe Israel would resume its attacks and refuse to withdraw completely if Hamas surrendered its weapons.
The findings come after Hamas accepted a proposal from Nickolay Mladenov, head of the US-backed Board of Peace, concerning the future of Gaza and the issue of Hamas’s weapons. Israel has rejected the proposal.
The survey also found widespread pessimism about the situation. Around 40 percent of Palestinians expect the current conditions to continue, including ongoing killings, despite diplomatic efforts to establish a lasting settlement.
The poll provides insight into Palestinian views on Hamas, Israel’s military presence, Gaza’s future, political leadership and the prospects for Palestinian statehood.
Overall, the results suggest that many Palestinians view full Israeli withdrawal as a necessary condition before any agreement requiring Hamas to surrender its weapons.
raeli Withdrawal, Poll Finds
