74% of Israelis support prisoner exchange deal in Gaza: Poll

61% of Israelis believe army should maintain presence along Syrian border until stability is restored

By Abderaouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Some three-fourths of Israelis favor a cease-fire in Gaza that would lead to a prisoner exchange agreement, according to a new poll.

Israeli daily Maariv reported Friday that 74% of respondents believe Tel Aviv should now pursue a comprehensive deal to secure the return of all captives, even if it requires halting military offensives in Gaza.

This view is supported by 84% of voters from opposition parties and 57% of voters aligned with the current government coalition.

In contrast, only 16% of respondents supported a partial agreement, while 10% had no specific opinion.

In recent months, the families of Israeli captives in Gaza have intensified pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reach a deal.

Opposition leaders and these families accuse Netanyahu of stalling negotiations to maintain his position, as extremist Cabinet ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to withdraw from the government if a full cease-fire is agreed upon.

The poll also found that 61% of Israelis believe the army should maintain its presence along the border with Syria until stability is restored. Another 25% support a limited presence, while 14% remain undecided.

In a separate finding, the poll indicates that if elections were held today, opposition parties would secure 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, enough to form a government. Netanyahu's supporting parties would receive 49 seats, while Arab lawmakers would secure 10.

However, no elections are currently on the horizon, as Netanyahu has rejected calls for a vote amid the ongoing war.

Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,100 people, most of them women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last month for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi

Kaynak:

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