Few Gazan civilians support Hamas

 'The argument that the entire population of Gaza can be held responsible for Hamas’s actions is quickly discredited when one looks at the facts. Arab Barometer, a research network where we serve as co-principal investigators, conducted a survey in Gaza and the West Bank days before the Israel-Hamas war broke out. The findings, published here for the first time, reveal that rather than supporting Hamas, the vast majority of Gazans have been frustrated with the armed group’s ineffective governance as they endure extreme economic hardship. Most Gazans do not align themselves with Hamas’s ideology, either. Unlike Hamas, whose goal is to destroy the Israeli state, the majority of survey respondents favoured a two-state solution with an independent Palestine and Israel existing side by side.'

Article here. From what I have read, although Hamas in theory want the end of the Jewish state, in practice they hope for a two state solution too.

'Israel is not alone in believing it must defeat Hamas. Over the past two weeks, when I talked to Arab officials throughout the region whom I have long known, every single one told me that Hamas must be destroyed in Gaza. They made clear that if Hamas is perceived as winning, it will validate the group’s ideology of rejection, give leverage and momentum to Iran and its collaborators and put their own governments on the defensive.' 

Retired American diplomat Dennis Ross in article in the New York Times, under the headline 'I Might Have Once Favored a Cease-Fire With Hamas, but Not Now'.

'The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is terrible. Palestinians once again are paying for what Hamas has done. While Gazans seek to move to the south as the Israelis call on them to leave Gaza City, Hamas seeks to stop all such movement—meaning they are holding their public hostage.'

Dennis Ross - but Israel know when they ask Gazan civilians to leave the north of Gaza it is impossible for most Gazans to flee and if they do they are often killed by Israelis. 

'We now know Israel is fighting the equivalent of ISIS. Sec Austin says what he has seen is worst than ISIS. I hope Israel can create some safe areas for Gazans. I know when the US bombed Raqqa and Mosul to defeat ISIS, we destroyed the cities as we sought to destroy ISIS.'

Dennis Ross. Worth remembering when you read about Russian bombing of hospitals in Syria.