I'm happy that you know so many peaceful Palestinians. Alas, the man-on-the-streets interviews I see with Palestinians and the polling information I share below contradict your claimed experience.
You may be right that the Israeli government tilted in favor of Hamas, but it doesn't make much difference because the stated beliefs of Fatah (and other Palestinian groups) are not that different from Hamas.
Here are the facts about the violent views held by most Palestinians...
This survey of public opinion in Gaza from November 14, 2023, was conducted by Arab World Research and Development (AWRAD). AWRAD is funded by multiple Arab governments, the UN, the World Bank, and others. The results of this survey are stunning and deeply depressing...
Gaza Palestinians reject peace and reconciliation
75% support the October 7 massacre
85.9% reject coexistence with Israel
71.1% are committed to the restoration of “historical Palestine”
74.7% support the creation of a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea” as the only acceptable resolution of the conflict.
Gaza Palestinians support terrorism
76% believe that Hamas plays a somewhat to very positive role
84% believe that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) plays a somewhat to very positive role
79.8% believe that Fatah’s terror wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, plays a somewhat to very positive role
88.6% believe that Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Kassam Brigades, plays a somewhat to very positive role.
Gaza Palestinians support terror organizations more than they support the (supposedly) moderate Fatah
87.3% of the Palestinians believe that the Palestinian Authority (PA) plays a negative role
Only 8.4% believe that the PA should govern the West Bank and Gaza
85.8% support Hamas continuing to play a role in the Palestinian government
13.6% support a Hamas-only government
72.2% support a “national unity” government of Fatah and Hamas.
Gaza Palestinians are ungrateful and even hostile to aid providers
98.2% of Palestinians see the U.S. role as negative
96.7% consider the UK role as negative
92.6% consider the EU role as negative.
85.5% believe that these countries support Israel because of “hatred of Arabs
79.5% believe that support is the result of “hatred of Muslims and Islam”
Gaza Palestinians also hate more "moderate" Arab countries
96% disapprove of the UAE
95.5% disapprove of Saudi Arabia
84.6% disapprove of Egypt
75.6% disapprove of Jordan.
Gaza Palestinians are deluded about military realities
72.6% said “Palestine” will win the current military conflict
3.1% said Israel will win
Please also consider what happens when you sign a peace treaty with Hamas.
We are constantly told that peace will come if Israel tears down its settlements in the West Bank and agrees to create a Palestinian state there, and in Gaza. But Israel did exactly that in Gaza and Northern Samaria (on the West Bank) in 2005. This action created a de facto Palestinian state in Gaza. But no peace resulted.
Hamas defeated its Palestinian rival Fatah in 2007 and took complete control of Gaza. Hamas then attacked Israel the following year. Israel defeated Hamas and signed a peace agreement with them. But the peace agreement didn't bring peace.
Hamas attacked Israel again in 2012, 2014 and 2021. Israel retaliated and destroyed a large part of Gaza. Hamas then signed another peace treaty with Israel, but it did not bring peace. Instead, Hamas massacred and raped Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023.
I repeat the claims I have been making in my recent articles on Substack and Medium...
Palestinian culture is toxic.
A Palestinian state would be just one more Arab Islamic honor culture hell hole. And no peace would result. The new Palestinian state would wage constant war against Israel.
No peace is possible without a basic reformation of Palestinian culture.
