A poll published on Friday shows that nearly half of Israelis prefer to postpone any Gaza invasion, possibly suggesting a decline in support for the planned next phase of the counter-offensive against Hamas fighters, who are currently holding approximately 200 hostages.
In response to the killing and kidnapping spree by Palestinian Islamists in its southern communities on October 7, Israel pledged to eliminate Hamas and has since escalated tank and infantry operations, accompanied by intense shelling of the enclave.
In response to the question of whether the military should promptly advance to a substantial ground offensive, 29% of Israelis expressed agreement, while 49% advocated for a more patient approach, and 22% remained undecided, as reported in the poll published by the Maariv newspaper.
The newspaper reported that these results diverge from its October 19 poll, which indicated 65% support for a significant ground offensive.
“From a breakdown of the answers, it emerges that there is no division in accordance with political camp or demographics, and that it is almost certain that the developments on the matter of the hostages, which is now topping the agenda, have had a great impact on this shift (in opinion),” Maariv wrote.
Hamas released four hostages in the past week as part of ongoing efforts by regional mediator countries to facilitate a larger-scale release.
Hamas claims that approximately 50 hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. One former hostage reported being held, along with at least two dozen others, in an underground Hamas tunnel and bunker complex, which has become a focal point of Israel’s offensive.
Maariv conducted a survey involving 522 adult Israelis, with a reported margin of error of 4.3%, as stated by the newspaper.
