48 percent Gazans blame govt for fuel crisis

People in the Gaza Strip mostly blame the Hamas government for the ongoing fuel crisis in the coastal enclave, according to a poll released on Saturday. In Gaza, 48 percent hold Hamas responsible for the cutoff in fuel supplies that plunged the strip into widespread blackouts, the study by the Arab World for Research & Development said. Just 21 percent charge Israel with responsibility, the PA at 12 percent, and the government of Egypt at 10 percent, according to the poll. By contrast, in the West Bank 59.1 percent hold Israel responsible for the crisis, and just 14.7 percent the Hamas government, while 9.3 percent blame Egypt and 9.1 percent the PA. The survey found optimism about a reconciliation deal between West Bank and Gaza rulers Fatah and Hamas was higher in Gaza at 61 percent, than in the West Bank at 53 percent. AWRAD surveyed 1,380 people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between March 5 and 12. The poll has a + 2.5 percent margin of error.