It's no surprise that Hamas' popularity among the Gazan population is directly correlated with oppression by Israel/others.

When there's any sort of indication of freedom or potentially loosening the apartheid state, Hamas' popularity plummets.

1.How many ordinary looking female professional race car drivers did Danica Patrick steal thunder from?

2. Paige Spiranic was never even an LPGA tour player. She’s famous as an influencer like the Kardashians.

3. Maria Sharapova was the #1 player in the world.

4. Anna Kournikova was the #8 singles player and the #1 doubles player in the world at 19. And it was 25 years ago.

“Too often”? Bit of a stretch.

There have been tons of female professional racecar drivers that have received far less attention than Danica Patrick.  The fact that you can't come up with any goes to prove the point.

There have been a ton of female tennis players who have been ranked #1 for longer yet have nowhere near the popularity of those two.

It happens quite often.  Check out what female college athletes get the most NIL.  Livvy Dunne has the highest NIL valuation of any female athlete.  Yes, she's very good at gymnastics.  But what she has done for gymnastics isn't even remotely on the same planet as what Caitlin Clark did for women's basketball.  The Cavinder twins had a higher NIL valuation than Caitlin Clark.

It happens all the time.  It happens in all walks of life.

I love it when experiences with acquaintances rhyme with my own. It makes the world feel smaller and more manageable.

Take 31 next door to Her Name is Han is bangin' too if you can't get into the latter but still want Korean food.

Thanks for the recommendation, reservation made for Friday.

This is true, and the "Palestinians elected Hamas" narrative is obviously hamfisted.  But that also provides cover for denying the uncomfortable reality of Hamas' empowerment, proliferation, and fusion within Gazan society.  "Palestinians do not equal Hamas" is objectively true, but its also not like Hamas is some foreign occupying force ruling in spite of Gaza Palestinian resistance.  At best, Hamas has flourished in a Gazan environment that lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep them down.  At worst, they rule with implicit consent of the Gazan population.

Or, as has been repeated over and over throughout history, a political/power vacuum and bungling by geopolitical heavyweights allowed bad actors to seize control over a largely oppressed and impoverished population, which - even if it wanted to - lacks the means to depose their rulers.

The problem in Gaza isn't that it "lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep (Hamas) down." The problem is that Hamas is the centralized government.

Honest question for the "Gazans = Hamas" crowd ... what can/should average Gazan citizens - most of whom are just squeaking by to survive and provide - do to wrest power away from Hamas?
Hamas controls all the money, institutions and guns, and hasn't allowed an election since 2006. What are the options for the local schoolteacher or nurse or shop owner?

This is true, and the "Palestinians elected Hamas" narrative is obviously hamfisted.  But that also provides cover for denying the uncomfortable reality of Hamas' empowerment, proliferation, and fusion within Gazan society.  "Palestinians do not equal Hamas" is objectively true, but its also not like Hamas is some foreign occupying force ruling in spite of Gaza Palestinian resistance.  At best, Hamas has flourished in a Gazan environment that lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep them down.  At worst, they rule with implicit consent of the Gazan population.

I have no idea if they have any sort of implicit consent of the Gazan population overall.  My guess is that the population puts up with them because they rule with a lot of power through their association with Iran, and there is no other alternative. 

Kina like the equivalent of organized crime controlling a neighborhood back in the day. Most people just try to get along without causing anyone to get upset.