By Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute
August 24, 2026
An overwhelming 72% say Hamas should not disarm before Israel completely withdraws from the Gaza Strip. Only 20% support disarmament before a full Israeli withdrawal. Opposition to disarming Hamas reaches 79% in the West Bank and 62% in Gaza.
This is crucial. The problem, therefore, is not whether Palestinians approve or disapprove of Hamas’s performance. The issue is whether they believe Hamas should be allowed to retain its weapons and continue functioning as an armed organization.