62% of British adults are not taking a side in the Israel-Gaza conflict

[lavender2023]

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2023/10/16/b8bd3/1

Personally as a Jewish person (with family in Israel), I feel heartened by the results as it shows we are a compassionate country who can feel sympathy with both sides or are sensible enough to tick 'don't know' when they feel like they can't understand a complicated foreign conflict. I personally would probably tick 'both sides equally' or 'don't know' because i have such mixed feelings! I was reading some posts yesterday about Jewish people who want to move to Israel because apparently anti-semitism is worse than rockets. There are very valid concerns but we should at least take heart that the majority of people are far more nuanced and not taking sides like one would pick a football team, or are anti Israel . Social media isn't real life

There are regional variations but even in London, 56% of people are not taking sides. The one age group which is pro palestinian is the 18-24 group which is 39%, but at the same time, the combined numbers of 'don't know' and 'both sides' are 40%.

People who make comments like that poster did, show their racism by making huge assumptions and a lack of knowledge.

white supremacy is more than just about skin colour, it’s mindset, also Israel are backed by white ‘superpowers’ who inflicted their white supremacy on other peoples on the basis of them being uncivilised. It’s dehumanising language that is all over and spoken so matter of fact. When you compare, they will favour those who look more like them, talk more like them etc and generally believe anyone that is more like them is more worthy than those that aren’t. But I’m not here to try to convince anyone, many of us can see it.

Yes we know how the Ethiopians are treated. You can talk the talk but the reality on the ground is different.

Shame on anyone too ignorant to not understand that it's complicated

The decision to bomb a refugee camp while in the process of committing genocide is really quite simple. Do I support that or not? Do you support that?

This is f horrendous

This 👆

Don't know is not the same as both sides imo.

The ethopian Jews were airlifted to Israel and their evacuation is organized by the Jewish state. They are treated much like the Jews of The soviet union were treated when they first came to Israel- the latter were called drunkards and pork eaters and they were apparently treated worse than they had been treated in the Soviet Union initially. The Jewish people have many communities and they don't always get on and can be prejudiced against each other. There are obviously economic inequalities between the different groups. But fast forward 20 years and there isn't much difference between the average earnings of an average Israeli and the average earnings of an Israeli with Russian heritage..

UK/USA support Israel because they are an ally in the region and will defend western interests. Singapore and Japan and South Korea and Taiwan are also western allies, are they white supremacists as well?

Like I said we are talking about Palestinian and Israelis and the former are being dehumanised implying that they are not civilised. Someone just casually said that upthread and seen the exact same comments by so many both on here and in the media. Anyway like I said I’m not even here to debate because those of us that are ‘othered’ every day know what we see and can spot the language.

Honestly the threat to Israel is very real and I don’t blame for needing to defend themselves they have every right, but it’s gone too far imo and if people stand up for Israel on that basis it is fine but reading between the lines I do see a lot of justification because Palestinians are not like “us” apparently and that’s fine we are all entitled to our opinion, just as I am and I believe that is dehumanising them.

I also don't agree with netanyahu's language where he called someone human animals, whether that was Hamas or the Palestinians was left open to the imagination. It is very dangerous rhetoric.

Arab Israelis were also murdered by hamas and we should also do more acknowledge them

Yes, saying they were animals and children of darkness

And as Ive said (cant remember what thread now), in reality, the Palestinians will believe in what Hamas believe in, even if they are not active supporters of Hamas. So he must be talking about all Palestinians, not just Hamas

I agree that collective punishment is against international law BUT at the same time Hamas has food and 6 months worth of provisions in their tunnels (which are also bomb proof). They are not sharing this with the civilians of Gaza.

Israel is wrong for bombarding children but they are also unlucky to have a government who spends millions building tunnels and storing up 6 months of food without caring about what happens to the Palestinian people.

I’m sure it’s a great comfort to the Palestinian people to hear that blame for their hellish existence can be apportioned equally between the two protagonists.

I think it’s ok to feel for all those murdered by Hamas, Israelis, Thai’s and so on and the hostages and their families waiting to find out if they are alive and if they will ever come home. I think it’s ok to feel for the Gazan’s who don’t know where is safe who are terrified that their home is gone, terrified they will die, they don’t know where to get aid they don’t know when they will have clean water and food. I feel sorry for all the Israelis and Palestinians trapped by history.

I don’t need to pick a “side”, I think it’s ok to feel enough compassion for both, the very real fear each has of eradication. I think theres enough tragedy to feel for each and every human being stuck in an atrocious situation.

I know people may have natural sympathies for one group of people over another but you can’t shame people into choosing.

I hate to tell you this but I live in a very left wing town and they are planning demos and vigils in support of Palestine. I personally find this hard to comprehend. Why take one side when there are people suffering on both sides? I just don’t understand it.

@Desertrose2023 all those things you listed are rectifiable by their own government so I don't understand why you are raging at Israel. Are they likely to continue to supply these things after being attacked and massacred.
Hamas has fuel.
Hamas has water.
Hamas has bomb proof bunkers.
Hamas Has food.
Hamas is refusing to let its people leave through the Rafah crossing.

So why isn't Hamas handing it over? I see you haven't raged on repeated threads about that?

I am Jewish but non practising. Broadly I support Israel and it's right to exist. In this conflict I feel very torn. I believe Israel has a right to defend itself...on a human level, I feel sick at seeing the scenes in Gaza. Terrible times for everyone really.

I refuse to get drawn into side taking. It’s a complex situation with trauma on both sides.

I do support the state of Israel, but I also believe there has to be a better solution for the Palestinian people. They deserve better than Hamas, and better than Netanyahu’s government’s approach.

The slaughter of recent weeks is unbearable. Fanaticism and black-and-white thinking has got those poor people of both communities here, and it isn’t going to get them out.

I agree, why not have a peace march calling for a cease fire rather than a march in support of one side or the other

Rubbish. The IOF’s total destruction of basic civilian infrastructure through carpet bombing is not rectifiable by Hamas. The shut down on internet and telecommunications is not rectifiable by Hamas. The stoppage of clean drinking water to 2.3 million people isn’t rectifiable.

And even if it all was, THAT DOESN’T EXCUSE Israel doing those things in the first place! It’s barbaric and completely reprehensible to intentionally inflict that on a civilian population of which 40% are children.

I have broadly supported Israel wanting to eliminate Hamas- who I think are terrorists. I have felt incredibly sorry for ordinary Palestinians but they live with Hamas amongst them and it makes Israel's actions questionable at times but tonight's bombing of a Palestinian refugee camp is unconscionable. I am shocked and appalled by it.

The human rights violations of the Ethiopian Jews in Israel is historic, and not much has changed. Refused jobs, refused rental properties, and allegations that long term birth control was forced upon the women waiting to be transferred to Israel. This is democracy apparently.

I think many people are seeing it for what it is now.

very well articulated.

@Desertrose2023 you might need to look up carpet bombing. It would be completely gone by now.
Even if you are blaming Israel for this it's laughable that you think Hamas wouldn't even bother trying.
Moving no one to a bomb shelter?
Not releasing any fuel. Not even for the incubators?
Why would you stand back and watch your people endure these things and not let them leave?
Still sending rockets into Israel and yet condemning Israel for doing the same.
Hypocritical at the least.

That survey was conducted on 16 October.

I think the figures would be a lot different now after Israel has killed so many innocent women and children in the last few weeks.