Poll: 71% back a deal to free the hostages and end war in Gaza; 51% oppose Gaza settlements

A poll shows overwhelming public support for a deal in which the hostages would be freed in exchange for an end to the war in Gaza.

Channel 12’s survey shows 71% support for such terms, compared to 15% who oppose them and 14% who don’t know.

Among supporters of what Channel 12 calls Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc of parties, 56% back a deal that stops the war in return for the hostages, 24% oppose it and 20% don’t know.

Hamas has consistently demanded a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the war, and the release of large numbers of Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for the 101 hostages held captive in Gaza. Netanyahu said last night he would agree a ceasefire to secure the release of hostages but would not permanently end the war.

The poll also shows public favor continuing to shift away from Netanyahu and toward former prime minister Naftali Bennett, as well as showing a slight majority of the public does not support the rebuilding of settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Comparing Netanyahu to Bennett, 33 percent tell pollsters for Channel 12 news that the former is more suited to serve as prime minister, compared to 39% who say the latter.

Pitting Netanyahu against Opposition Lebanon Yair Lapid, 36% believe the former is more suited to serve as prime minister, compared to 28% who say the Yesh Atid leader is.

The network also asked respondents whether they favored Netanyahu against National Unity MK Gadi Eisenkot – 35% of respondents say Netanyahu is more suited to serve as premier, compared to 33% who say Eisenkot is.

The poll also finds 51% of respondents are against the rebuilding of settlements in Gaza, with 33% in favor and 16% saying they do not know.

However, those who voted for Netanyahu showed a stronger tendency toward favoring the return of Jewish communities to the Strip, with 57% saying they agree and 24% against, with 16% responding that they do not know.