in a recent poll [http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=256] "About six-in-ten Palestinians (62%) have a favorable opinion of the organization (Hamas), as do majorities or pluralities in Jordan and Morocco. Opinions of Hamas are divided in Egypt and Kuwait, and Hamas is viewed negatively in Turkey. The balance of public opinion in Lebanon is against Hamas (67% unfavorable), although the organization is rated favorably by half of the country’s Shia community. Hamas – a organization made mostly up of Sunnis – is overwhelmingly unpopular among Lebanese Sunnis."
== Legal action against Hamas ==
In 2004, a federal court in the United States found Hamas liable in a civil lawsuit for the 1996 murders of Yaron and Efrat Ungar near [[Bet Shemesh]], [[Israel]]. Hamas has been ordered to pay the families of the Ungars $116 million.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/01/29/116m_awarded_in_terrorism_suit/]</ref> On [[July 5]], [[2004]], the court issued a default judgment against the [[Palestinian National Authority|PNA]] and the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] regarding the Ungars' claim that the Palestinian Authority and the PLO provide safe haven to Hamas.
On [[August 20]], [[2004]], three Palestinians, one a naturalized American citizen, were charged with a "lengthy racketeering conspiracy to provide money for [[terrorism|terrorist]] acts in Israel". The indicted include [[Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook]], senior member of Hamas, believed to be currently in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]] and considered a [[fugitive]] by the U.S..
In a 2002 report, [[Human Rights Watch]] stated that Hamas' leaders "should be held accountable for the [[war crime]]s and [[crimes against humanity]]" that have been committed by its members.<ref>[http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/isrl-pa/ISRAELPA1002-05.htm#P735_169095 Erased In A Moment: Suicide Bombing Attacks Against Israeli Civilians] V. Structures and Strategies of the Perpetrator Organizations, [[Human Rights Watch]], October, 2002. ISBN 1-56432-280-7</ref>
On [[1 February]] [[2007]], two men were acquitted of contravening US law by supporting Hamas.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101377.html?nav=rss_world] Both men argued that they helped move money for Palestinian causes aimed at helping the Palestinian people and not to promote terrorism.
