Nearly Half of Israelis Doubt Hamas Can Be Removed While Hostages Freed

A new poll from the Israel Democracy Institute reveals a deeply divided Israeli public on whether the government can simultaneously topple Hamas and secure the release of the hostages still held in Gaza. According to the survey, 49% of Israelis do not believe these two goals can be achieved together. Just 46% think it is possible.

When forced to choose one priority, 68% of respondents said they would focus on bringing the hostages home, while only 25% chose dismantling Hamas. This gap has been widening steadily since similar polls conducted in January and September 2024, reflecting a growing urgency among Israelis to rescue the captives over pursuing complete military victory.

Political orientation played a major role in responses. An overwhelming 91% of left-leaning voters and 80.5% of centrists prioritized hostage recovery, compared to 52% of right-leaning respondents. Among those who prioritized defeating Hamas, 74% believed that both goals could be accomplished simultaneously. By contrast, 59% of those who prioritized the hostages believed it would require a trade-off.

The IDI poll also explored broader public sentiment on democracy, security, the economy, and social cohesion and found optimism running low across all categories. Only 22% of both Jewish and Arab respondents felt optimistic about Israel’s social unity. Economic optimism stood at 25%, and confidence in democratic governance was only slightly higher at 38%.

The most optimism was expressed regarding Israel’s security, at 39.5%, with a significant gap between Jews (43.5%) and Arabs (20%). Right-leaning Jewish respondents were substantially more hopeful across all domains compared to their centrist and left-leaning counterparts.

Amid the political tensions surrounding Prime Minister Netanyahu’s judicial reforms and his attempts to remove Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, 54% of Jewish and 71% of Arab respondents said the government must respect the Supreme Court’s authority. A strong 86% of left-wing respondents even said civil disobedience would be justified if the court’s ruling were ignored.

On the question of police handling of protests, a growing number of Israelis especially among Arab citizens believe that the police are failing to balance public order with the right to protest. Only a minority agreed that the law enforcement response has been appropriate.

A majority, 53%, opposed a recent amendment to the Judicial Selection Committee Law, viewing it as a power grab that could politicize Israel’s judiciary. Another 65% said the recently passed state budget served narrow interests, not professional economic goals.

Despite these challenges, most Israelis are slowly returning to normal daily routines. However, there remains a notable divide: 77% of right-wing Jews say life is returning to normal, compared to 64% of centrists and just 55% on the left.

Looking ahead to Passover, 37% of Israelis plan to maintain their usual leisure activities. But 51% are scaling back, either due to security fears (29%) or financial hardship (22%).

These findings offer a revealing glimpse into a nation torn between war and peace, political reform and judicial independence, and a deeply personal drive to bring every hostage home.

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