Palestinians support Hamas, reject disarming: poll
Forty-one per cent of Palestinians favour "armed struggle" over negotiations, pacifism in quest of Palestinian state
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Oct 31, 2025 • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — Most Palestinians support Hamas and the Oct. 7 terror attacks, and oppose disarming the terror group as a means to end the war in Gaza, according to a poll.
And a plurality of Palestinians consider “armed struggle” the best way to secure a Palestinian state, with negotiations and peaceful resistance earning lower marks.
The sobering new polling was released this week by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research. The results could complicate Canada’s joint conditions for recognizing Palestinian statehood, including disarming Hamas and leaving governance in the hands of President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority (PA.)
Support for Oct. 7 terror attacks strong amongst Palestinians
Support for the Oct. 7 terror attacks, which saw Palestinian terrorists unleash a wave of abductions, murder and sexual assault against Gaza-adjacent Israeli communities, sits at around 50%, the poll suggests — with high support for the attacks among residents of the West Bank.
Those attacks touched off well-organized and well-funded demonstrations and intimidation rallies here in Canada, with groups of far-left and anti-Israel activists holding regular rallies in city streets, at Jewish-owned businesses and even in Jewish neighborhoods, accusing Israel of conducting a so-called “genocide” in Gaza.
When asked which means of securing a Palestinian state would be most effective, 41% chose armed struggle, 36% said negotiations, and 19% opted for peaceful resistance.
Pollsters suggest public support for Hamas has only grown since the Oct. 7 attacks, both in Gaza and most notably the West Bank.
Disarming Hamas — one of Canada’s conditions for their Sept. recognition of a Palestinian state — has little support among Palestinians.
Eighty-five per cent of West Bank residents oppose disarming Hamas, while the number shrinks to just 55% among Gazans.
Support for Hamas far outstrips Palestinian Authority, Abbas
Approval ratings for Hamas sits at 60%, while approval for Abbas sits at just 20%.
“Public opinion reveals continued profound dissatisfaction with President Mahmoud Abbas, with three quarters disapproving of his performance and 80% wanting his resignation,” the pollsters wrote in their summary.
“This unpopularity is reflected in presidential polls where Abbas secures only 13% of the vote.”
Conversely, support for Marwan Barghouti of Hamas-rival Fatah is the highest among all Palestinians, while Hamas maintains the biggest popularity on a party-level.
“This is reinforced by the perception that Hamas is more deserving of leadership than Fatah under Abbas,” the pollsters wrote.
“However, a substantial segment of the public is deeply disillusioned with the status quo, as nearly a third believe neither party is worthy of representing the Palestinian people.”
Support for two-state solution mixed
Canada’s demands that the PA hold general elections in 2026 saw roughly two-thirds support support among Palestinians, but 60% of those polled do not believe the PA genuinely intend to hold elections.
The poll also found that 53% feel Canada’s joint recognition of a Palestinians state brings the end of Israeli occupation closer, while 45% disagreed.
Support for a two-state solution is also mixed, the poll suggests.
Forty-seven per cent of respondents prefer a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, while 18% prefer a confederation between a Palestinian state and Israel.
Twelve per cent preferer a single state where Palestinians and Israelis live as equals, while 24% declined to answer.
The poll was conducted among 1,200 Palestinians, 760 of which are residents of the West Bank and 440 Gaza residents, with a margin-of-error of ± 3.5%.
Efforts must go towards deradicalizing Palestinians, expert says
Casey Babb, director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Promised Land Program and adviser to secure Canada, told the Toronto Sun the polling only validates what observers have been warning for years — that support for Hamas remains high among Palestinians.
“The group is not a foreign entity that’s been parachuted into Gaza, but are a Palestinian organization that represents the very ethos of the Palestinian people,” he said.
“If there is going to be peace, the West needs to focus not on performative politicking and hope, but on deradicalizing the Palestinian people, which will take generations.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
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These are the results of the latest poll conducted by PCPSR-Polling and Survey Research in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 22-25 October 2025. The immediate period prior to the poll witnessed the announcement of the Trump Plan at the end of September followed by a ceasefire agreement...
pcpsr.org
Polling shows strong support for Hamas while rejecting Palestinian Authority. Find out more.
torontosun.com
en.wikipedia.org
