“Palestinians overwhelmingly support the October 7 attack”
A December 2023 PCPSR poll found 72% West Bank and 82% Gaza support — but the figure requires context about polling under occupation, the timing relative to the Gaza war's escalation, and what "support" means in this context.
The polling data
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), based in Ramallah, is the most widely cited Palestinian polling organization. Its Poll No. 90, conducted December 2023, found:
- West Bank: 72% said the October 7 attack was correct
- Gaza: 82% said the October 7 attack was correct
PCSR is an independent academic institution that has been conducting public opinion research in Palestinian territories since 1993. Its methodology is peer-reviewed and widely used by international organizations.
What the data shows
At face value, this data supports the claim that at the time of polling, a large majority of Palestinians surveyed expressed support for the October 7 attack. The data is real.
Why it needs context
Timing: The poll was conducted during Israel's initial heavy bombing of Gaza. Expressions of support for resistance may partly reflect rage at the ongoing war rather than pre-existing endorsement of the specific October 7 methodology.
What "support" means: In conflict zones, survey responses about resistance operations often reflect solidarity with the cause (Palestinian statehood) rather than specific endorsement of the tactic (killing families at a music festival). PCPSR asked about the attack in general, not about specific atrocities.
Fear of reprisal: While PCPSR uses robust anonymous methodology, respondents in Gaza under Hamas governance may face social pressure to express pro-resistance views.
Trending: Subsequent polls showed declining support as the scale of casualties in Gaza became clearer to residents who had initially had limited information.
The bottom line
The poll data is real and significant. High Palestinian support for the October 7 attack — even with these caveats — is a legitimate and important fact. But the claim "Palestinians overwhelmingly support October 7" flattens a more complex picture when stated without the polling context and the distinction between broad-stroke political support and endorsement of specific civilian massacres.
Scale and intent — side by side
October 7 (Hamas): about 770–840 civilians killed in one day. Intent to kill civilians is documented — in Hamas's written orders ("kill as many people as possible"), its fighters' own footage, and its leaders' statements.
Gaza (Israel): civilian deaths in the tens of thousands over two years (the civilian share is disputed, roughly 60% to 83%). Israel's stated aim is to destroy Hamas; warnings and large aid volumes are documented, and several incidents have been acknowledged by the IDF as errors. Intent to kill civilians is alleged, and has not been established by any court.
Both facts matter, and neither cancels the other. Every party's alleged crimes, on one scale: War Crimes Ledger.