Poll: Nearly half of Israelis back withdrawing from Philadelphi Corridor for hostage deal

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - A recent poll has found that 48% of Israelis would support withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border in exchange for a hostages swap deal with Hamas.

Conducted by the Lazar Institute and reported by Maariv newspaper, the survey polled 506 Israelis, with a margin of error of 4.4%. It showed that while nearly half of respondents were open to relinquishing control of the corridor, 37% opposed such a move, and 15% remained undecided.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the idea of withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor in return for a deal. Despite the public's stance, Netanyahu maintains his firm opposition to ceding this strategic border area.

The survey also gauged political preferences, revealing that Netanyahu remains a preferred choice for prime minister, though his popularity has fluctuated compared to other political figures. In a head-to-head matchup with Benny Gantz of the National Unity party, Netanyahu garnered 42% support, while Gantz received 40%, with 18% of respondents undecided.

When compared to opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid, 45% of Israelis preferred Netanyahu, while 36% favored Lapid, with 19% undecided. Similarly, 43% of respondents chose Netanyahu over Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu, who received 35% support, with 22% undecided.

However, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett outshines Netanyahu in terms of popularity. The poll found that 49% of Israelis would support Bennett as prime minister, compared to 34% for Netanyahu, with 17% undecided.

In terms of Knesset seats, if elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud party would lead with 23 out of 120 seats, closely followed by Gantz’s National Unity party with 22. Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu would secure 15 seats, and Lapid’s Yesh Atid 13.

Netanyahu’s coalition would total 52 seats, while the opposition would gather 58 seats. Arab representatives are expected to secure 10 seats. The formation of a government requires a minimum of 61 seats.

While an immediate election seems unlikely due to the ongoing war, the survey indicates shifting dynamics in Israel’s political landscape.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has continued since a deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7, despite calls for a cease-fire from the U.N. Security Council. The conflict has claimed the lives of nearly 40,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left over 94,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

The blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of essential supplies, leaving much of the region devastated. Israel is currently facing genocide accusations at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara