I think from polling data the majority of Israelis support the war with pallestine/Netanyahu. And similarly the majority of Palestinians support Hamas and violence against Israel
That’s what makes this so difficult. If Hamas had no support it would probably be easier to deal with them
Netanyahu has become very unpopular since Oct 7, and the Israeli media has been involved in a borderline criminal level of self-censorship about the war.
Hamas does have widespread support, but at least some of that is because they’re the only game in town in Gaza, short of embracing genocide. Admittedly, because Hamas has put great effort into making sure they’re the only major player allowed to operate in Gaza.
Hamas doesn’t have widespread support. They pretended to be a reformed, moderate, responsible party who no longer wanted to be seen as the extremists that they used to be. Because of this, they won a very slim plurality in the 2006 election and then indefinitely postponed the following election. I don’t think I’m alone in assuming that quite a bit of what support they do have from the Palestinian people is from either implicit or explicit coercion. Otherwise, support is likely from Hamas daring to retaliate against Israel for mistreatment up to murder of innocent Palestinian civilians over the decades.
Hamas fucking sucks. They just happen to be the only leadership left for the Palestinian people because Hamas has tricked the people into giving them power and they’ve had a death grip on it ever since, preferring to let Palestine get wiped off the map rather than lose that power.
Otherwise, support is likely from Hamas daring to retaliate against Israel for mistreatment up to murder of innocent Palestinian civilians over the decades.
In a nutshell, that’s how lots of Palestinian leftists and progressives view it. They don’t like any Hamas beliefs or tactics, except for the one where they stand up to colonization.
All in all, Hamas is the ugly bastard child of Israel and a Palestinian faction that sought division instead of coming together with the other freedom fighters. They wanted separation, the Israelis liked the idea and supported them in doing so. How will this tale end? I think with a new faction born from the orphans of Gaza, and hopefully an armed resistance group with less questionable tactics and less anti-semetism.
Hamas doesn’t have widespread support. They pretended to be a reformed, moderate, responsible party who no longer wanted to be seen as the extremists that they used to be. Because of this, they won a very slim plurality in the 2006 election and then indefinitely postponed the following election.
Hamas does have widespread support. Maybe not majority, but widespread. They were definitely not pretending to be a reformed, moderate party in 2006. Elections have been repeatedly cancelled not just because Hamas are anti-democratic shitheads (though they are) but also because the PA realizes that there is a good chance that the moderate parties (and I use the term loosely) won’t win the election.
Otherwise, support is likely from Hamas daring to retaliate against Israel for mistreatment up to murder of innocent Palestinian civilians over the decades.
Like I said, at least some of the support is because they’re the only game in town in Gaza, short of embracing genocide. I agree here.
