An opinion poll published in mid-September by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR), a think tank based in Ramallah and funded by Western donors, showed for the first time the majority of Gazans opposed the decision to attack. The poll, conducted in early September, found that 57% of people surveyed in the Gaza Strip said the decision to launch the offensive was incorrect, while just 39% said it was correct – down sharply from the previous poll in June.
The PSR opinion poll, published on Sept. 17, showed that the proportion of Gazans who said they want Hamas to run a post-war Gaza had dropped to 36%, from 46% in its June poll.
Even in the West Bank, where support for Hamas remained stronger, support for the attack has declined, the poll showed, though almost two-thirds of respondents there still thought it was the correct decision.
This isn’t “dissent” really. To start with, the decision was made by basically Sinwar and a few of his small circle. Haniyah and the political leadership were caught off guard and knew it was a totally inopportune time to attack. I talked to a political analyst who knows Khaled Meshal well and he told me that 1) the operation spiralled out of control because they met such little resistance 2) the militant leadership inside Gaza were myopic and led by a guy who had spent 22 years of his life in prison and didn’t have the full strategic picture.
This was the least opportune moment possible in every way I can think of, down to who is in the White House. If it was Trump it would have at least greatly damaged US Israel relations through the partisanship factor.