Opinion poll: The Palestinian street is moving towards independent options and a technocratic administration focused on economic recovery

Bethlehem - Ofoq News - The latest Palestinian public opinion poll, the results of which were published today, Wednesday, showed a fundamental shift in the attitudes of the Palestinian street towards supporting independent lists and economically competent leaders, coinciding with a noticeable decline in the popularity of the traditional factions, led by the Fatah and Hamas movements.

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research conducted this poll in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between October 7 and 11, 2026. Its conduct coincided with developments related to the legislative elections, which were scheduled to be held in late November 2026 before President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree postponing them to September 2027.

The decline of factions and the rise of independents

The results of the survey indicated a decline in direct party affiliation. The popularity of the Hamas movement declined to 19% (13% in the West Bank and 27% in Gaza), and the popularity of the Fatah movement stabilized at 22%.

On the other hand, the largest percentage of respondents (33%) chose not to belong to any of the existing factions, and this percentage increases to 48% in the West Bank.

In terms of elections and political participation, 56% of respondents expressed their willingness to vote for new independent lists that include professional and economic figures.

In a simulation of voting among voters, the Independent National List led by businessman Bashar al-Masry tied with the list supported by Marwan Barghouti (which includes Qaddoura Fares and Fadwa Barghouti) with 22% each, ahead of a joint list of Hamas and Dahlan (20%), and the official Fatah list headed by Hussein al-Sheikh and supported by President Abbas (13%).

Economy and efficiency first

The poll highlighted a pragmatic trend among voters that links voting to living priorities. In assessing the leadership ability to manage economic recovery and improve the standard of living, Bashar al-Masry received the highest percentage of confidence (30%), followed by Mustafa Barghouti (29%), while Palestinian Authority leaders such as Hussein al-Sheikh and Gabriel Rajoub received low percentages of 8% and 6%, respectively.

In the Gaza Strip in particular, the desire for institutional renewal is strong, as 60% of respondents in the Strip expressed their confidence in a “technocratic” national committee to manage Gaza after the war.

The position on war and the political settlement

Regarding the Gaza war, 62% of Palestinians considered that neither Israel nor Hamas emerged victorious from the war. Despite this, 74% categorically reject the disarmament of Hamas before the complete Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Politically, the Palestinian street separates diplomacy from resistance. 42% believe that negotiations are the most effective means of ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state, while 33% support the armed struggle (which has witnessed a notable increase in Gaza recently to reach 37%), and 18% prefer peaceful popular resistance. 53% also expressed their support for a political settlement based on a two-state solution on the 1967 borders.

Youth reluctance

The survey warned of the generation gap and political alienation among young people (18-22 years old). The percentage of those registered in the voter register in this category did not exceed 31%, while their confirmed intention to vote was only 20%. Young people clearly lean toward the independent lists, as 43% of them expressed their lack of affiliation to any traditional political faction.