A poll published by Channel 12 on Friday revealed that most Israelis are in favor of ending the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza if it would result in the release of all hostages held by Hamas. This comes as Israeli and American officials expressed optimism this week about an agreement nearing completion.
Although the current proposal does not include a full release of hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, the poll found that 72% of Israelis would support such an arrangement. Meanwhile, 15% were opposed to the idea, and 13% were unsure.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently maintained that Israel would not accept Hamas’s primary condition of halting the war in Gaza as part of a deal.
Among voters who back Netanyahu, a slight majority of 56% indicated support for such a deal, while 24% were against it and 20% were undecided.
According to The Wall Street Journal, discussions this week revolved around a potential agreement involving the release of approximately 30 hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire. Israel would also release an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal.
Of the 251 hostages captured by Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the murder of roughly 1,200 people, it is believed that 96 remain in Gaza. This includes the bodies of at least 34 individuals confirmed dead by the IDF.
Hamas has already released 105 hostages during a temporary truce in late November, and four more were freed earlier. Israeli forces have rescued eight hostages alive, while the bodies of 38 have been recovered, including three who were unintentionally killed by Israeli forces during escape attempts.
In the midst of these developments, Netanyahu began providing testimony in his corruption trial this week after receiving a brief delay to prepare, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and tensions with Hezbollah, which recently ended with a ceasefire.
The prime minister had requested an additional postponement last week, referencing both the Gaza war and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. While the court denied the request, it agreed to allow breaks during testimony so Netanyahu could address pressing matters of state when needed.
As Netanyahu took the stand, a survey asked respondents about their views on how the trial should proceed. Thirty-six percent believed Netanyahu should reach a plea deal that would require him to leave politics, while 21% thought the trial should continue to a final verdict. Another 20% felt the entire trial should be canceled, and 9% said a plea deal should be reached without forcing Netanyahu to step down. Fourteen percent had no opinion.
When asked whether Netanyahu’s request for an additional delay should have been granted, respondents were divided. Forty-two percent said the court made the right decision in denying the delay, while 41% felt it should have been allowed. The remaining 17% were unsure.
Netanyahu is facing charges in three corruption cases. In Case 1000, he is accused of fraud and breach of trust for allegedly accepting gifts worth NIS 700,000 from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and offering assistance in return, such as helping Milchan renew his U.S. visa and addressing tax matters.
In Case 2000, Netanyahu is charged with fraud and breach of trust over an alleged arrangement with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes. The deal would have involved favorable media coverage for Netanyahu in exchange for legislation aimed at weakening Yedioth’s competitor, Israel Hayom.
Case 4000, known as the Bezeq-Walla case, is considered the most severe. Netanyahu is accused of promoting regulatory policies that benefited Bezeq’s majority shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, by hundreds of millions of shekels. In return, Netanyahu allegedly received positive coverage from the Walla news site, which Elovitch owned.
Netanyahu has denied the allegations, claiming he was unaware of the gifts from Milchan and rejecting any improper relationships with either Milchan or Elovitch. He also said he had no knowledge of Sara Netanyahu’s alleged involvement.
A majority of respondents (56%) indicated they did not believe Netanyahu’s denials, while 27% said they believed him, and 17% were uncertain.
Netanyahu’s supporters were more inclined to trust him, with 53% expressing belief in his denials, 22% saying they did not believe him, and 25% unsure.
The poll also addressed the government’s refusal to establish an official inquiry into the failures leading to Hamas’s October 7 attack. While Netanyahu and his ministers argued that wartime is not the appropriate time for such an investigation, 60% of respondents felt the government’s reasons were politically motivated. Only 25% believed the decision was based on legitimate concerns, while 15% were undecided.
{Matzav.com Israel}