These are facts. Of course you can find a few distraught people who blame Hamas, but they are simply not representative of the Gaza population at large, any more than hardline Jews who want to nuke Gaza represent Israelis at large. Regardless of how badly Western media (incl Free Press apparently) would like to believe, Gazans overwhelmingly support Hamas.
Sounds like media whitewash of Hamas supporters in Gaza. Reliable polling from a Palestinian institute in Ramallah show 78% of Palestinians support the Oct 7 atrocities:
The poll mentioned below was carried out by an outfit from Birzeit University in Ramallah. The results used to be readily accessible through their website at:
I was able to access the results tables in English a couple of weeks ago and have a copy of them, but, interestingly, they no longer have them available in English in their webpage, only in Arabic. Instead they have a sort of breakdown analysis that essentially leaves unmentioned some of the most inconvenient results that are emphasized in the press articles referred to in the comments below.
From the results tables it becomes clear that, in a nutshell, only 7% of Gazans like Hamas's government, but 2/3 to 3/4 of them support Hamas's aims & strategies vis-a-vis Israel, including 70% support for a single Palestinian state "From the River to the Sea". Hence the question as to whether Hamas represents the Palestinians in Gaza is somewhat misleading.
Many of us would have wished the picture looked a bit more hopeful for a future peaceful compromise. But, let's face it, it's not the case.
Had Sherman only known of Scarlett O’Hara’s indifference to the Confederate cause, Atlanta needn’t have burned!
The level of popular support among Gazans for the genocidal aims of their rulers is a red herring, unknowable and irrelevant to Israel’s conduct of the war. Those not in the fight cannot be killed at random, but nor does their presence obligate Israel to pursue anything less than complete and durable elimination of Gaza’s will and capacity to threaten Israeli citizens.
As the real Sherman said, “we cannot change the hearts and minds of the South, but we can make war so terrible that generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it.”
I have no doubt that Gazans have been suppressed and used by Hamas for its grizzly war to terrorize Israelis. However Israel has to destroy Hamas and war is messy. Once Hamas is uprooted the world will see if there are any of these peace desiring Gazans who can become leaders of their people.
My Jewish friend in Israel said Hamas won the election in Gaza violently. This is about Hamas vs. Israel not Palestinians vs. Israel. My friend is a supporter of the Palestinians, has friends who are Palestinian and speaks Arabic and Hebrew. I've known him for 16 years, I believe what he tells me.
A free press demanding some version of free speech is vital. It is not even close to a human reality unfortunately. Thank you to The Free Press for trying. Gift subscriptions will be part of my contribution to the world.
The average Palestinian trying to live their life in Gaza is just another victim of Hamas. This attack had no potential upside for the normal people living in Gaza whatsoever, it was an antisemitic terror attack meant to provoke exactly the response it provoked. The Palestinians are pawns in all this.
The world does not seem to have a solution to combat religious fundamentalism in the middle east, though. The Palestinians need a legitimate government who watches out for their interests, but Hamas would never permit that.
If the Gazans are so sick of Hamas, this seems like a good time to denounce them and point them out. I’m not seeing that. Maybe they don’t trust all those UN Do-Gooders to protect them. But this is their time. This is their chance for freedom. Yes Hamas will slaughter some of them, but a prolonged war will kill more. At least this way they will be True Palestinian Heroes. Gazans, do you want freedom and a better life? This.Is.Your.Chance.
Anti Hamas? I don’t think so. The people in Gaza were shown rejoicing and dancing in the streets on October 7th, when they first learned of the terrorist attack on Israel. They also beat the hostages when Hamas marched them through the streets of Gaza. The people of Gaza, like most people around the world, hate the Jews, and they support Hamas since Hamas stated purpose is to rid the land, once known as Judea, of Jews.
It’s obvious that the people who agreed to speak do not represent a majority opinion of the people living in Gaza. If they did, then the moderate Palestinians would rise up and overthrow Hamas’ leaders. The people in Gaza were shown rejoicing in the streets when they learned of the October 7th terrorist attack against Israeli citizens. There are also documented reports of hostages being beaten by Gazan citizens as they were dragged through the streets of Gaza.
I'm tired of these anecdotes. Hamas is broadly supported throughout Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas won Gaza elections. Abbas refuses to call West bank elections because all polling indicates he would lose to Hamas. Since Oct 7th, support for Hamas has increased in both territories. (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/palestinian-poll-finds-strong-support-for-hamas-october-7-attacks-river-to-the-sea-state/ar-AA1k6mEx).
These are facts. Of course you can find a few distraught people who blame Hamas, but they are simply not representative of the Gaza population at large, any more than hardline Jews who want to nuke Gaza represent Israelis at large. Regardless of how badly Western media (incl Free Press apparently) would like to believe, Gazans overwhelmingly support Hamas.
Sounds like media whitewash of Hamas supporters in Gaza. Reliable polling from a Palestinian institute in Ramallah show 78% of Palestinians support the Oct 7 atrocities:
https://www.jns.org/three-in-four-palestinians-support-hamass-massacre/
But still let the mainstream media pro-Hamas PR campaign begin?
The poll mentioned below was carried out by an outfit from Birzeit University in Ramallah. The results used to be readily accessible through their website at:
https://www.awrad.org/en/article/10719/Wartime-Poll-Results-of-an-Opinion-Poll-Among-Palestinians-in-the-West-Bank-and-Gaza-Strip
I was able to access the results tables in English a couple of weeks ago and have a copy of them, but, interestingly, they no longer have them available in English in their webpage, only in Arabic. Instead they have a sort of breakdown analysis that essentially leaves unmentioned some of the most inconvenient results that are emphasized in the press articles referred to in the comments below.
From the results tables it becomes clear that, in a nutshell, only 7% of Gazans like Hamas's government, but 2/3 to 3/4 of them support Hamas's aims & strategies vis-a-vis Israel, including 70% support for a single Palestinian state "From the River to the Sea". Hence the question as to whether Hamas represents the Palestinians in Gaza is somewhat misleading.
Many of us would have wished the picture looked a bit more hopeful for a future peaceful compromise. But, let's face it, it's not the case.
Had Sherman only known of Scarlett O’Hara’s indifference to the Confederate cause, Atlanta needn’t have burned!
The level of popular support among Gazans for the genocidal aims of their rulers is a red herring, unknowable and irrelevant to Israel’s conduct of the war. Those not in the fight cannot be killed at random, but nor does their presence obligate Israel to pursue anything less than complete and durable elimination of Gaza’s will and capacity to threaten Israeli citizens.
As the real Sherman said, “we cannot change the hearts and minds of the South, but we can make war so terrible that generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it.”
I have no doubt that Gazans have been suppressed and used by Hamas for its grizzly war to terrorize Israelis. However Israel has to destroy Hamas and war is messy. Once Hamas is uprooted the world will see if there are any of these peace desiring Gazans who can become leaders of their people.
My Jewish friend in Israel said Hamas won the election in Gaza violently. This is about Hamas vs. Israel not Palestinians vs. Israel. My friend is a supporter of the Palestinians, has friends who are Palestinian and speaks Arabic and Hebrew. I've known him for 16 years, I believe what he tells me.
A free press demanding some version of free speech is vital. It is not even close to a human reality unfortunately. Thank you to The Free Press for trying. Gift subscriptions will be part of my contribution to the world.
The average Palestinian trying to live their life in Gaza is just another victim of Hamas. This attack had no potential upside for the normal people living in Gaza whatsoever, it was an antisemitic terror attack meant to provoke exactly the response it provoked. The Palestinians are pawns in all this.
The world does not seem to have a solution to combat religious fundamentalism in the middle east, though. The Palestinians need a legitimate government who watches out for their interests, but Hamas would never permit that.
All these whisperers are just that - whisperers. Until they take to streets like the brave people of Iran, they will remain irrelevant and unheard.
We know from recent surveys that 75%of Gazans strongly support
If the Gazans are so sick of Hamas, this seems like a good time to denounce them and point them out. I’m not seeing that. Maybe they don’t trust all those UN Do-Gooders to protect them. But this is their time. This is their chance for freedom. Yes Hamas will slaughter some of them, but a prolonged war will kill more. At least this way they will be True Palestinian Heroes. Gazans, do you want freedom and a better life? This.Is.Your.Chance.
Anti Hamas? I don’t think so. The people in Gaza were shown rejoicing and dancing in the streets on October 7th, when they first learned of the terrorist attack on Israel. They also beat the hostages when Hamas marched them through the streets of Gaza. The people of Gaza, like most people around the world, hate the Jews, and they support Hamas since Hamas stated purpose is to rid the land, once known as Judea, of Jews.
It’s obvious that the people who agreed to speak do not represent a majority opinion of the people living in Gaza. If they did, then the moderate Palestinians would rise up and overthrow Hamas’ leaders. The people in Gaza were shown rejoicing in the streets when they learned of the October 7th terrorist attack against Israeli citizens. There are also documented reports of hostages being beaten by Gazan citizens as they were dragged through the streets of Gaza.
Thanks so much for this.