Poll: Half of UK say Israel committing genocide in Gaza, majority support Netanyahu arrest
Khalid Abdalla (R) and Juliet Stevenson flanking a demonstrator with a Keir Starmer mask outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London, on 13 May 2025
Middle East Eye reports on 17 June 2025:
More than half of Britons oppose Israel’s war on Gaza, with the vast majority of those saying Israel’s conduct amounts to genocide, a new poll has showed.
The survey, commissioned by the NGO Action For Humanity in collaboration with the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians, was conducted by YouGov.
The survey concluded that 55 percent of the public oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza, with only 15 percent in support. Of those 55 percent, an overwhelming 82 percent believe it amounts to the crime of genocide. “This translates to 45 percent of adults in the UK who view Israel’s actions as genocidal,” the two NGOs said.
The poll also found that nearly two thirds of Britons (65 percent) want the UK to implement the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit the UK. According to the NGOs, the findings show “growing public pressure for legal accountability and a decisive government response”.
The survey is based on a sample size of 2,010 adults, and the polling fieldwork was conducted online between 4-5 June 2025. “The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+),” the groups said in a press statement.
Additionally, the YouGov poll reveals strong public backing in the UK for the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, with support particularly pronounced among Labour voters.
Overall, 30 percent of Britons support recognising Palestine as an independent state right away, compared to just 10 percent who oppose the initiative.
An additional 19 percent believe recognition should come eventually, when the time is right