The findings of a Near East poll released Tuesday showed that some 94 percent of Gaza residents believe their economic situation under Hamas rule is significantly worse than it was before the terrorist organization took over the region after ousting the rival Fatah faction in a civil war that ended with Hamas taking control of Gaza and Fatah controlling the PA areas of Judea and Samaria.

The survey, which polled 900 Gaza residents, found that 64 percents of respondents live under the poverty line; 41 percent said they would leave Gaza immediately if they could. Half of those polled feel less security since Hamas took over the region in June 2007 and 18 percent feel no change in the level of security. Some 32 percent said they feel more security since Hamas took control of Gaza.