Large Minority Wants to Leave Gaza as Hamas Popularity Declines, New Poll of Palestinians Finds

Latest Developments

• Large Minority Wants to Leave Gaza: A large proportion of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip say that they want to leave the coastal enclave, according to a new poll from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR). Published on May 6, the poll reveals that 43 percent of Gazan residents said they were ready to emigrate at the end of the war with Israel, with 49 percent of those respondents willing to do so through Israeli ports and airports if this was feasible. Forty-three percent believe that Egypt and Jordan should agree to U.S. requests to host displaced Palestinians.
• Hamas Approval Declines Steadily: Hamas remains more popular than its nationalist rival Fatah in both Gaza and the West Bank despite its approval rating declining overall to 57 percent, down from 75 percent in June 2024. In Gaza, where the Iran-backed terrorist group has ruled since 2007, its approval rating is just 43 percent. However, Fatah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas fared even more poorly among those polled, with 81 percent of respondents calling for Abbas to resign. In tandem, the number of Palestinians who believe that the Hamas assault of October 7, 2023 was “correct” has declined to just 50 percent, with 59 percent of West Bank respondents and just 38 percent of Gaza respondents expressing agreement.
• Hostage Release Won’t End War, Most Respondents Say: An overwhelming majority of Palestinians — 88 percent in the West Bank and 69 percent in Gaza — believe the war will not end if Hamas releases the hostages captured during its October 7 atrocities. Additionally, an overwhelming majority oppose the disarmament of the Iran-backed terrorist group. Nearly 60 percent of Palestinians believe that the anti-Hamas protests that erupted in Gaza in March and April were orchestrated by outside forces.  

FDD Expert Response

“The latest PCSPR poll likely reflects a harsh reality in Gaza. In recent weeks, Hamas has escalated its warnings to Palestinians, threatening severe consequences for anyone accused of sowing sedition against armed factions. This wave of intimidation, paired with over 18 months of conflict, underscores the poll’s most striking finding that nearly half of Gazans want to leave the territory. It’s a powerful indicator of just how deep the disillusionment and despair of Palestinians have grown under Hamas’s rule.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The poll confirms what many in Gaza have been saying for months: Hamas dragged the enclave into a catastrophic war, used civilians as human shields, and crushed dissent to stay in power. It’s clear — Hamas doesn’t care about Gazans, only about its own survival.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Fatah Says It Won’t Let Hamas, Iran Sacrifice Palestinians,” FDD Flash Brief

“War fatigue settles among Palestinians,” by Ben Cohen

“Poll: Hamas Remains Popular Among Palestinians,” FDD Flash Brief

“Facing Low Poll Numbers, PA President Pushes for Palestinian Statehood,” FDD Flash Brief

“Support for Hamas Surges in the West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief