The acceptance and influence of the Palestinian armed organization Hamas in various regions of the Middle East and beyond has increased dramatically in the two months following the October 7 attack on Israel and the counter-attack on Gaza. In the wake of Israel’s relentless bombing of Gaza, which has killed thousands of civilians, Hamas is now the only armed organization standing up to the brutal attackers of women and children.
These data emerged recently in a large-scale study by US intelligence. Citing officials who participated in the study, CNN reported that the organization has successfully established itself in various parts of the Arab world and the Muslim world as a protector of the Palestinian state and a successful fighter against Israel. Their influence continues to grow after Hamas attacks in Israel last October killed 1,200 people, including women and children.
In the eyes of Hamas, the October 7 attack in southern Israel was a successful operation. Since then the organization has been given its credit; Their acceptance has increased in the occupied West Bank, especially after negotiations with Israel to release Palestinians. Israel freed hundreds of Palestinians in exchange for hostages. Most of them are residents of the West Bank.
A senior administration official of the US government, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Hamas was not a widely popular organization. But now they are quite popular. Attacks on Israel have boosted Hamas’ popularity outside Gaza.
A poll conducted in the first week of November showed less support for the October 7 attack in besieged Gaza than in the occupied West Bank. 68 percent of people in the West Bank supported the attack. On the other hand, support in Gaza was 47 percent of people. This may have been the result of conducting this survey during the war. Because, many residents of Gaza have been displaced by the continuous bombing of Israel. Their dissatisfaction may come out in the survey.
Officials of the US Biden administration have already warned that the death of civilian Palestinians by Israeli bombs will increase the popularity of Hamas. They also say that such bombings will only fuel terrorism at home and abroad. Earlier this month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “This is the kind of fight where civilians are at the center.”
Research by US officials has shown that Hamas’s popularity has increased in foreign countries besides Palestine. A poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that Hamas’s popularity in the occupied West Bank rose from 12 percent in September to 44 percent in December. In Jordan, where more than half the population is of Palestinian origin, people took to the streets to demonstrate in support of Hamas. Jonathan Panikoff, a former US intelligence official, said that Hamas is seen as such an organization in the occupied West Bank, which is doing something against the Israeli occupation.
The United States sees the rise of Hamas as a risk factor. But they think it is not possible to wipe out Hamas. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said it may be possible to defeat Hamas’ military leadership. But it is not possible to destroy the ideology of the organization by war. U.S. officials say it’s hard to gauge what Hamas’ influence will be.
The political wing of Hamas has been running the government in Gaza since 2007. After the history-making attack inside Israel, the group is now resisting the Zionist forces inside Gaza too. At least 472 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks since October 7. However, Hamas claims that this number will be higher.
