Fatah still most populat, but Hamas's popularity increases among Palestinians

A new opinion poll in the West Bank and Gaza Strip reveals that Hamas's popularity has increased in the aftermath of Israel's recent attack. If an election were held today, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh would beat Mahmoud Abbas by 47% to 45%. Three months ago, Abbas received 48 percent and Haniyeh 38 percent. But if the competition were between Haniyeh and Marwan Barghouthi, the popular Fatah leader currently imprisoned by Israel, Barghouthi would win by 61 percent to 34 percent, the survey showed. Fatah, however, remains the most popular faction with 40 percent of overall support, compared to 42 percent last December, it said. The popularity of Hamas in the same period increased from 28 percent to 33 percent in the latest poll. The most important priority for Palestinians today, in the eyes of 46 percent of the sample, should be the unification of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Hamas won a Palestinian parliamentary election in 2006 and seized control of the Gaza Strip the next year after fighting with Fatah. Israel responded by tightening its blockade of the coastal enclave, increasing hardships for its 1.5 million residents.