Poll finds majority of Israelis pessimistic government will secure hostage release deal
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Israelis seem to have largely despaired that the government will be able to reach a hostage release deal with Hamas anytime soon, with nearly three-quarters of respondents expressing pessimism regarding the possibility in a survey released on Wednesday.
According to the Israel Democracy Institute’s August 2024 Israeli Voice Index, which polled 600 people across the country last week, 78.5 percent of Jewish respondents and 49% of Arabs expressed doubts regarding the likelihood of an agreement in the near future. Overall, 73.5% of respondents were pessimistic while only 21% were optimistic.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under immense criticism domestically for allegedly blocking a deal with his insistence since July on continued Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
During a press conference on Monday evening, he made clear he would not agree to Israel leaving the Philadelphi Corridor, even for the first 42-day phase of a hostage-ceasefire agreement. His remarks drew a furious response from members of the opposition, with National Unity chairman Benny Gantz arguing that Israel can and “will return to Philadelphi if and when required” and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid accusing the Netanyahu of embroiling Israel in “a forever war.”
Asked if Netanyahu’s demand to retain the Philadelphi Corridor is “largely based on military and strategic considerations,” 51% agreed that it was, while 39% indicated that they believe his position is “largely intended to prevent a deal from being reached, for Netanyahu’s own political reasons.”
Breaking it down, 58.5% of Jewish respondents agreed that Netanyahu’s reasons stem from military reasons while the majority of Arabs (66.5%) believe he is trying to prevent an agreement.
Among those opposed to Netanyahu’s position on the Philadelphi Corridor is Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has called for the security cabinet to walk back its recent decision that any potential ceasefire and hostage release deal must include an Israeli military presence along the route.
According to the poll, 66% of Israelis believe the ongoing public spat between Netanyahu and his defense minister has had a “negative impact on the management of the war.”
