Poll: Majority of Israelis say hostage deal takes precedence over troops staying in Philadelphi Corridor

Sixty percent of Israelis believe a hostage deal should take precedence over troops staying in the Philadelphi Corridor, a Channel 12 news poll finds, with 28% responding that the axis on the Egypt-Gaza border was more important. Twelve percent said they did not know.

When asked if they believe the government is doing all it can to bring the hostages home, 61% said no, 34% said yes and 5% said they did not know.

The outlet says that when asked what they think stems from Netanyahu’s insistence on the IDF remaining in the Philadelphia Corridor, a majority said it came from the premier’s political considerations.

Pollsters found that voters for Netanyahu’s Likud party were more likely to believe remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor takes precedence over a deal to bring home the 101 hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

The survey also found that Netanyahu is less trusted by the public than opposition leaders — 35% of Israelis trust Opposition Leader Yair Lapid more than Netanyahu, compared to 33% who trust the premier more and 28% who trust neither of them.

When asked about National Unity leader Benny Gantz, 41% of the respondents answered that they trust Gantz more, and 27% answered that they believe Netanyahu more.

However the outlet says the poll found former prime minister Naftali Bennett is the most trusted — 44% of the Israeli public trust him over Netanyahu, compared to 29% who trust the premier more.

Respondents also see Netanyahu as the Israeli who holds the most responsibility for October 7 – 43% said the premier was to blame, followed by Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi with 18%, Shin Bet chief Ronan Bar with 14% and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with 6%.

The survey also examined the public’s position regarding far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s attempt to formally change the status quo on the Temple Mount, and promote Jewish prayer at the flashpoint site.

The poll found more than two-thirds of the Israeli public — 68% — opposes Jewish prayers on the Temple Mount, and thus opposes changing the existing situation.

The outlet does not give details on the poll’s methodology or margin of error.