IDF troops operate in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, in a handout photo issued by the military on June 5, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
Most Israelis are not convinced the IDF’s current military operation in Gaza will help free the hostages or topple Hamas, according to a new poll from the Israel Democracy Institute.
IDI polled 601 Jews and 150 Arabs aged 18 and above from May 26 to May 29, asking them: In your opinion, will the IDF’s current operation in Gaza (“Gideon’s Chariots”) lead or not lead to bringing the hostages home and to defeating Hamas and ending its rule in Gaza?
Only 37% of respondents thought the military operation will bring the hostages home and only 38.5% think it will defeat Hamas and end its rule in Gaza.
IDI graphic: In your opinion, will the IDF’s current operation in Gaza (“Chariots of Gideon”) lead or not lead to bringing the hostages home and to defeating Hamas and ending its rule in Gaza? (%)
Arab Israelis were even less likely to think that the current military operation will achieve either goal, with 27.5% saying it will bring the hostages home (compared to 39% of Jewish Israelis) and 31% of Arab Israelis thinking it will defeat Hamas (compared to 40% of Jewish Israelis).
Even among respondents who voted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the 2022 election, just 27% said that the military operation will lead to the freeing of the hostages and 31% said it would lead to the toppling of Hamas.
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