Marrakech – As the war on Gaza reaches its ninth month and the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates further, a shift in Israeli public opinion is emerging.
A recent survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 56% of Israelis now support a deal to release all hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The poll, conducted from June 30 to July 2, revealed a divide between Israel’s Jewish and Arab populations on the issue. While 88% of Arab Israelis back a comprehensive deal, support among Jewish Israelis is lower at 50%.
Those on Israel’s political left overwhelmingly favor a full hostage-release agreement (86%), whereas only 45% on the right support such a move, instead preferring a partial deal for some hostages and a temporary ceasefire.
Despite this shift in public sentiment, the hard-line government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows no signs of deescalating its military campaign, which UN officials have called a “targeted famine” attacking Gaza’s population of two million.
Since major hostilities began last October, over 38,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, with another 88,000 injured according to Gaza health authorities.
Israel’s long-running blockade and bombardment has left large swathes of the densely populated enclave in ruins, severely restricting access to basic necessities like food, clean water and medicine.
The United Nations and much of the international community have accused Israel of egregious human rights abuses amounting to war crimes and genocide against Gaza’s civilians.
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In December, South Africa took the unprecedented step of bringing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, alleging its actions violate the UN Genocide Convention – a charge Israel vehemently denies.
“The situation is getting worse day after day in Gaza,” said Nambitha Dambuza, a Justice on South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal.
She told AFP that despite the ICJ ordering Israel to immediately halt operations in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where over a million had sought refuge before the city was invaded in May, Israel’s onslaught continues unabated.
As public pressure builds within Israel for an end to the offensive and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis spirals, all eyes are on the Netanyahu government to see if it will change course.
For the besieged Palestinians of Gaza, each day brings more suffering as they wait desperately for relief.
