More than one-third of Israelis think Hamas won the war, poll finds
Only 27 percent of Israelis think their government has defeated Hamas in its onslaught on the Gaza Strip that started a year ago, according to a new survey.
The poll, conducted by Israel's national broadcaster KAN News and the Kantar Institute, interviewed a sample of 653 Israelis.
The results show that 35 percent think Israel has lost the war against Hamas, while the rest are unsure.
Asked if they would be willing to move to one of the communities in southern Israel close to Gaza after the war ends, only 14 percent said they would consider living there, while 86 percent said they were unwilling.
Former and current Israeli military officials have also said they are losing the war on Gaza and Hamas is winning.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Major-General Gadi Shamni, a former commander of the Israeli military's Gaza division, said in an interview with The New York Times last month that Hamas was winning the war, while Israel was losing, "and in a big way".
He said the military capabilities of Hamas have undeniably been reduced, but the group still maintains control over Gaza.
Hamas members have been retaking towns across Gaza “15 minutes” after Israeli troops withdrew from them, he added.
A senior defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, separately told ABC News in September: "We are losing the war, we are losing deterrence, we are losing the hostages."
Monday marks one year since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, which followed a massive attack by Hamas-led fighters in southern Israel.
The Hamas attack killed 1,139 people, most of them civilians, and more than 250 were taken into Gaza as captives, 97 of whom are believed to be still in Gaza.
The subsequent and ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza has killed nearly 42,000 people, the majority of them women and children, according to UN figures.
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas on 7 October, was assassinated in Tehran in July. His successor, Yahya Sinwar, is believed to be in Gaza.
Multiple ceasefire proposals have been rejected by Israel over the past year, including a UN Security Council resolution, as Israel insists on eliminating Hamas rather than reaching a political end to the conflict.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
