June 12, 2025—Only 4 percent of the population in Gaza wants Hamas to remain in control, according to a recent poll commissioned by Zogby Reseach Services.
In a poll conducted by Zogby for the Tony Blair Institute from April 9 to May 12, 2025, the majority of people in Gaza stated that they would prefer government by the Palestinian Authority (35 percent) or a transitional international coalition that works with local administrators (27 percent).
Palestinian Authority Commits to Major Reforms & Elections
It comes at a time when the PA outlined plans for reforms and governance. It also comes ahead of a major international conference for a two-state solution cosponsored by France and Saudi Arabia.
Today, French President Emmanuel Macron released a letter from PA President Mahmoud Abbas. In it, Abbas committed to political reform, elections, an end to violence, revocation of payments to families of prisoners and martyrs, and a democratic state of Palestine.
“This conflict will not be settled by more occupation or more violence and terrorism,” the letter said. “Only a political solution rooted in justice and international law, and mutual acceptance and recognition will lead to a bright future for all. The Palestinian people is not destined to live under occupation, nor are we and the Israelis destined to be at war.”
The political division within the Palestinian territories has led to instability, expansion of settlements by the Israeli government, and ultimately, violence, war, and genocide. Extremism on both sides of the Israel-Hamas war has led to the mass destruction of Gaza and a blowback against Israel’s standing in the world. All three credit agencies maintain a negative outlook on the country’s creditworthiness in the wake of its conflicts.
Negotiations: Hamas Offers to Step Down
In the latest round of negotiations involving Hamas, Israel, and the US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas offered to step down, according to reporting by DropSite News:
“On May 25, Hamas announced that it had accepted a proposal drafted in coordination with Donald Trump’s envoys aimed at securing a deal to end the genocide, release all Israeli captives, and hand over administration of the Gaza Strip to an independent technocratic committee of Palestinians. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff then denounced that deal—one in which Hamas said he was directly involved—and colluded with Israel to try to force Hamas to accept a draft written entirely with Israel’s genocidal aims at the center.”
Palestine Governance, Major Reform Needed
Meanwhile, an overwhelming majority of respondents in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where the Palestinian Authority is in charge, called for major reform. Asked whether moderate to deep reform is needed of the PA, 85 percent of those polled said yes. Abbas’s letter to France and Saudi Arabia suggests the PA is committed to undertaking major reforms and elections within a year under international supervision.
Macron described it as a “genuine willingness to move forward.”
Gaza Poll Explores Security Options
The recent Zogby poll explored additional sentiment in Gaza. Nine in 10 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip hold both Hamas and Israel responsible for the current situation. Support for armed resistance against occupation fell from 10 percent in 2024 to 4 percent in 2025.
Preferences for international authority in Gaza include the UAE (27 percent), Turkey (15 percent), Singapore (14 percent), and Saudi Arabia (12 percent).
An overwhelming number of 42 percent of the population would prefer to see an international coalition providing security in the Gaza Strip followed by 40 percent opting for PA security forces to take charge.
Notably, despite the overwhelming destruction by the Israeli forces of Gaza, 38 percent of the population said they would not leave “under any circumstances.” An additional 32 percent of the people said they would temporarily leave, but only if they were guaranteed they could return.
