Hamas caused Gaza’s pain — and Gazans Still Support Them

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The Lie: Hamas doesn’t represent Palestinians; most Gazans are innocent civilians trapped under its rule.

The Truth:

Nearly twenty years after electing Hamas, The Gazan population have not shown diminished support — they still endorse its leaders, its terror, and its war against Israel.

Background:

Israel fully withdrew from Gaza in 2005. One year later, Gazans freely elected Hamas to power with 44% of the vote. The terror group violently seized total control in 2007 and has ruled the Strip ever since. Consistent polling over the years — including the most recent in October 2025 — shows Gazans still overwhelmingly support Hamas and its war against Israel.

Truth Explained:

Historical continuity: In the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas won 44.45% of the vote, defeating Fatah (41.43%) and forming the next government before violently ousting Fatah in 2007. (Election Guide)
Continued widespread support for terror: The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR) finds 53% of Palestinians in Judea and Samaraia and in Gaza still call the Oct 7 attack “the correct decision,” 69% oppose disarming Hamas even to end the war, and 86% deny Hamas committed atrocities. (PCPSR Poll No. 96, Oct 2025)
Political dominance: Hamas’s approval stands at 60% versus 21% for Mahmoud Abbas. In elections, 35% would vote for Hamas versus 24% for Fatah—a gap that has widened since the war began. (PCPSR Poll No. 96)
Shared ideology: Pollster Dr. Khalil Shikaki told NPR (July 26 2024) that two-thirds of Palestinians continue to support the Hamas-led Oct 7 attack because “they share Hamas’s values — they will support Hamas for that.” (NPR)
Civilian complicity: Freed hostages have confirmed that Hamas’s terror network is rooted in civilian life. Many were held inside ordinary Gazan homes — guarded, taunted, and starved by families who treated them as captives. One freed hostage, Mia Schem, recalled: “I felt like an animal in a zoo — the family’s children would open the door just to stare at me.” (Interview With Mia Schem)
Mass participation: Over 2,000 Gazans who infiltrated Israel on Oct 7 were not registered Hamas members — they were “civilian” participants. (JNS, Mar 4 2025)

Quotes:

“The population of the Gaza Strip is supportive of Hamas. They embrace that genocidal ideology.” — Pesach Wolicki, Eyes on Israel (Oct 2025)
“Freed hostages have described being held by Gazan families — proof that Hamas’s terror network is woven into civilian life.” — Israeli Government Statement (June 2024)
“It’s important to me to reveal the real situation about the people who live in Gaza, who they really are, and what I went through there,” she told Channel 13 news. “I experienced hell. Everyone there are terrorists… there are no innocent civilians, not one,” she said. “[Innocent civilians] don’t exist.” Mia Schem, freed hostage

Takeaway: