Survey Reveals Loss of Trust in Hamas and Calls for Authority Control in Gaza!
September 20, 2024, 7:02 am

Gaza

Survey Reveals Loss of Trust in Hamas and Calls for Authority Control in Gaza

A recent survey conducted in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has shown a significant decline in the popularity of Hamas, alongside rising anger over the repercussions of the October 7 attack, which resulted in widespread destruction and heavy human casualties.

The public opinion poll, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in the West Bank and Gaza Strip from September 3 to 7, 2024, indicated a sharp decline in Hamas's popularity among Palestinians.

This decline reflects the widespread public anger over the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attack, which caused massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, where more than 41,000 Palestinians were killed, and tens of thousands of women and children sustained injuries and permanent disabilities. The attack also displaced millions of residents and disrupted education for hundreds of thousands of students at all educational levels in Gaza.

Read also: Statements from "Khaled Mishal" confirm Hamas's continued draining of Gaza.

For the first time since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, the survey showed a noticeable decrease in support for the attack that day, whether in Gaza or the West Bank, along with a decline in support for Hamas. The results also revealed an increasing tendency in the Gaza Strip to prefer the return of the Palestinian Authority to control the Gaza Strip after the war, rather than continued Hamas dominance.

Despite this decline, Hamas remains the most popular Palestinian faction. However, the survey indicated a significant increase in support for a two-state solution, along with a clear decrease in support for armed struggle, with growing preferences for negotiations as a more effective tool to achieve an end to the occupation.

The timing of the survey coincided with ongoing military operations in Gaza and failed attempts to reach a permanent ceasefire, alongside rising clashes in the West Bank between Israeli forces and armed Palestinian groups, especially in the northern West Bank.

Meanwhile, Israel has imposed strict restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, closing off the entrances to many villages and towns to prevent their residents from accessing main roads. Settler aggressions against unprotected villages in Areas "B" and "C" continued.

The survey addressed many vital issues, including the internal balance of Palestinian powers post-war, Palestinian attitudes toward peace, and the alternatives proposed amid the stagnation of the political process. The sample size for the survey was 1,200 individuals, including 790 in the West Bank and 410 in the Gaza Strip. Interviews were conducted in 79 locations in the West Bank and 41 locations in Gaza, with the Gaza interviews limited to relatively safe areas such as Khan Younis and shelters in the central region, excluding the besieged northern areas.

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The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported over 41,000 Palestinian deaths since the October 7 attack, while a large part of the Gaza Strip has been destroyed and about 90% of its population, totaling 2.3 million, has been displaced.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.