75% of Israelis say Netanyahu should take responsibility for 7 October attack and resign

Nearly 75 per cent of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should accept responsibility for the Hamas-led cross-border incursion on 7 October 2023 and step down, according to a recent survey by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI).

The February Israeli Voice Index found that 48 per cent of respondents think Netanyahu should resign immediately, while 24.5 per cent prefer he step down after the war on Gaza.

Additionally, 14.5 per cent believe Netanyahu should take responsibility but remain in office, while only ten per cent feel he should neither take responsibility nor resign. Overall, 72.5 per cent support his resignation now or after the war, and 87 per cent believe he should accept responsibility regardless of whether he resigns.

OPINION: US brokering Israel’s breach of the Gaza ceasefire

According to the Times of Israel, the survey also highlights differences across demographics as 45 per cent of Jewish respondents favour Netanyahu’s immediate resignation, compared to 59 per cent of Arab respondents. Political alignment also plays a role, with 83.5 per cent of left-leaning respondents and 69 per cent of centrists supporting immediate resignation, while only 25.5 per cent of right-wing respondents share this view.

Moreover, a recent IDI survey, conducted between 25-28 February among 759 respondents in Hebrew and Arabic, found that only 33 per cent of Israelis are optimistic about the country’s economic future, while 30 per cent express optimism about social cohesion.

The poll also revealed that an overwhelming majority of 73 per cent of Israelis support moving to the second phase of the ceasefire and prisoner release deal with Hamas, which would require a complete cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all remaining captives. This includes 61.5 per cent of voters from Netanyahu’s Likud party.

Despite these views, only 41.5 per cent of respondents credited Netanyahu with facilitating the deal, compared to 85.5 per cent who saw US President Donald Trump as instrumental. Israel has so far refused to enter negotiations for the second phase of the agreement, as it would require a full withdrawal from Gaza and a complete cessation of the war. Instead, Israeli authorities have sought to extend the first phase to secure further hostage releases without ending military operations, a stance Hamas has rejected.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s office announced that a delegation would travel to Doha today to advance ceasefire negotiations.

A ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since 19 January, halting the Israeli war that has caused widespread destruction and left the Palestinian enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the enclave.

READ: Israel places Palestinian girl, 12, under house arrest