Nearly two-thirds of Israelis giving weekly donations to war effort, says study

More than 60% of the Israeli public donated to various initiatives relating to the war effort during the third week of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and gave more money than ever, a new study reveals.

A full 62% of Israelis were giving, on average, NIS 458 ($118) weekly per person, in money or “in kind” donations. This amount is “almost double the sum documented in similar reports in the past,” the researchers found. The study is a joint effort by Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

The researchers found that Israel’s “exceptional solidarity was also manifested in the fact that many Israelis donated to more than one body.”

The most common recipients were IDF soldiers and security forces; families whose loved ones were killed or kidnapped; people who were injured; hospitals and rescue forces; and support for evacuated communities.

A similar Hebrew University report from last week found that during the first two weeks of the war some 50% of Israeli citizens had directly volunteered in some way for the war effort, while the new study, covering the third week of the conflict, indicated that only 41% had volunteered. This is still a very high percentage, but the findings, taken together, indicates a drop in volunteerism.