As tensions mount and Israel prepares for a potential large-scale military reoccupation of Gaza, a new public opinion survey by PEW Research Centre reveals deep divides among Israelis over who should govern the territory after the war ends.
In a nationwide survey conducted between February 5 and March 11, 2025, a third of Israeli adults (33%) said Israel itself should govern Gaza post-conflict. This was the most popular response overall. The survey comes as Israel’s security cabinet sets a mid-May deadline to reach a new ceasefire deal, coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the region.
SHARP ETHNIC AND POLITICAL SPLITS
Support for Israeli governance of Gaza varies significantly:
- 42% of Israeli Jews favor Israeli control, compared to just 2% of Israeli Arabs.
- Among Jewish respondents, support has declined from 50% in 2024 to 42% in 2025.
- Among Arab Israelis, support has remained nearly unchanged.
Political ideology also plays a decisive role:
- 57% of right-leaning Israelis support Israeli governance.
- Only 14% of centrists and 2% of left-leaning Israelis agree.
- Support on the right has fallen from 69% in 2024, indicating a modest shift.
LITTLE APPETITE FOR HAMAS OR ABBAS
Virtually no one in Israel supports Hamas remaining in power:
- Only 1% overall say Hamas should govern Gaza.
- Among Israeli Arabs, 5% support Hamas governance; 0% of Jews do.
As for the Palestinian Authority, only 6% support PA rule under Mahmoud Abbas, while 10% prefer PA governance without Abbas.
Israeli Arabs show more willingness to accept PA rule, though more prefer it without Abbas (22%) than with him (6%).
SELF-DETERMINATION AND INTERNATIONAL CONTROL
A notable minority of Israelis support Gazans deciding their own future:
- 16% of all Israelis support self-determination for Gazans.
- Among Israeli Arabs, 45% favor this option; among Jews, only 8% agree.
Political alignment again shapes views:
- 36% of left-leaning Israelis prefer Gazans choose their leaders.
- Only 18% of centrists and 5% of right-leaning Israelis agree.
Just 2% overall think the United Nations should control Gaza. A larger segment, 11%, prefer some other entity to take charge, while 21% were undecided or did not answer.
The survey highlights the complex and fragmented views among Israelis over Gaza’s future. There is a strong preference against Hamas. Support for the Palestinian Authority is lukewarm. Some groups increasingly recognize Gazans’ right to self-determination.