Already before Hamas “created hell” in Gaza, residents opposed them and wanted to leave – PA official
Tulkarem District Governor Abdallah Kmeil: "Many of the Gaza Strip residents are against [Hamas]. They are not against them after 'the [Al-Aqsa] Flood' (Hamas' name for Oct. 7 war). They were against them even before 'the Flood.' Don't forget that 350,000 left the Gaza Strip [before Oct. 7, 2023]. If people had been given the opportunity to leave before Oct. 7 and emigrate as many did, including those who died at sea while fleeing the hell they [Hamas] created in the Gaza Strip, I am sure that if everyone were allowed to leave, they would have left."
[Tulkarem Governorate, Facebook page, Oct. 18, 2025]
Kmeil made this statement to the Fatah-run satellite channel Awdah TV.