By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-03-03 23:16:02 | Updated at 2025-03-04 04:13:52
4 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // A new poll that conducted a morale check among the residents of Gaza more than 500 days into the Israel-Hamas war indicated that the majority do not want to be under Hamas’ control and most are optimistic that the current truce will hold.
The Institute for Social and Economic Progress poll, conducted in late January, found that three in 10 Gazans said the ceasefire deal is “somewhat” stable, and more than six in 10 said they “strongly” believe that the truce will hold, AsiaNews reported.
The poll also discovered that almost 70% of Gazans credit President Donald Trump with bringing about the current truce. Twenty percent credit former president Joe Biden. Others credit Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas.
Gazans also expressed their hopes for future governance, with 5% of Gazans approving of Hamas controlling the territory and roughly 38% hoping for a unity government. More than three in 10 want Palestinian nationalist party Fatah to be in control and about one in four want Arab forces to govern the territory.
However, 12% said they realistically expect Hamas to control Gaza, while roughly 40% said they expect a unity government, 24% anticipate Fatah control, and about 23% said the same about Arab forces.
“The answers regarding future elections in Gaza are significant,” AsiaNews reported. “About 60 percent of respondents say they are ready to support candidates representing Fatah or independents, while candidates running with Hamas would get a measly 5 percent of the vote.”
AsiaNews added that most Gazans are concerned about the economy, as almost nine in 10 of respondents said they have “no means” to rebuild their lives in the destruction of Gaza and roughly half said they cannot take out loans for reconstruction. A slight majority of Gazans said they want to rebuild Gaza from scratch to improve it.
AsiaNews additionally reported that Gazans’ main concern may be the loss of aid, for which Gazans mainly blame criminal gangs and Israel.
