Majority of Palestinians oppose Hamas disarmament, say Trump’s ‘peace plan’ unlikely to end war: Poll
The Cradle, October 30, 2025 —
The poll notes that the last two years have ‘led to greater support’ for Hamas, particularly in the occupied West Bank.
A majority of Palestinians oppose the disarmament of Hamas and are skeptical of US President Donald Trump’s “peace plan” for Gaza, according to a new poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR).
The PCPSR poll was carried out between 22 and 25 October.
It reveals that around 70 percent of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza oppose the surrender of Hamas’s weapons, even if that means a renewal of Israeli attacks.
Opposition to disarmament is strongest in the occupied West Bank. Eighty percent of Palestinian respondents in the occupied territory believe the Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, should remain armed.
In Gaza, 55 percent said they opposed disarmament.
The poll goes on to show that a majority, 62 percent, do not believe the Trump plan will succeed in stopping the war “once and for all.”
In the occupied West Bank specifically, 67 percent are skeptical of the US plan. On the other hand, 54 percent in Gaza are doubtful.
Fifty-three percent of Palestinians remain supportive of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the poll shows – 59 percent in the West Bank and 44 percent in Gaza.
Additionally, 35 percent of Palestinians support Hamas compared to 24 percent who support the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Fatah party. Thirty-two percent said they do not support either party or have no opinion.
According to the survey, 85 percent want PA President Mahmoud Abbas to resign.
“The past two years have led to greater support for Hamas rather than the opposite, and that this conclusion is true in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, but more so in the former,” PCPSR said.
The poll comes as Israel continues to violate the Gaza ceasefire with full US backing.
Over 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza on 28 October after Israel resumed vicious airstrikes on the strip over what it said were violations by Hamas.
Forty-six children were among the dead. The Israeli strikes also injured 253 people.
“They killed an Israeli soldier. So, the Israelis hit back. And they should hit back,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. Hamas denied any link to the killing of a soldier in Rafah. The group has previously clarified that contact with its fighters in Rafah has been cut since March.
It is likely there are fighters in Rafah who are unaware of the ceasefire. The city was completely destroyed and taken over by Israeli troops during the war.
Hamas has affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire and has not responded to the dozens of Israeli violations recorded since the deal was reached earlier this month.
It has agreed to step back from governance in Gaza, but rejects disarmament until the formation of an independent Palestinian state.