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Source: https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-popularity-of-Hamas-579504
The Popularity of Hamas
(Jerusalem Post) Hillel Frisch - The photos and videos of Hamas' 31st anniversary commemoration in Katiba Square in Gaza evoke vivid impressions of a vibrant, extremely popular movement. The speeches and the skits - one of which featured an Israeli soldier cowering under his guards - were well-orchestrated. Yet, the event teaches very little about the popularity of Hamas. Hamas refrained from holding its commemoration in Gaza's largest square, choosing instead a venue one-third the size near the Islamic University, a Hamas stronghold. Clearly, the number of those participating in the event could not have exceeded 42,000. The writer is a professor of political and Middle East studies at Bar-Ilan University and a senior research associate at its BESA Center for Strategic Studies.