Rising Number of Britons Consider Israel’s Gaza Offensive a Genocide

A recent poll reveals that a growing number of people in the United Kingdom consider Israel’s military campaign in Gaza to be an act of genocide. Conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Action for Humanity and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), the survey found that 55 percent of Britons are opposed to Israel’s actions. Among them, 82 percent believe those actions qualify as genocide — which equates to 45 percent of the UK’s adult population.

The poll, involving 2,010 participants in early June, also showed that 65 percent of respondents support the enforcement of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he enter the UK.

Othman Moqbel, head of Action for Humanity, noted that the British public is increasingly appalled by the situation and that most believe the UK must do everything possible to hold Israel accountable. He criticized the UK government for failing to acknowledge the extent of the atrocities in Gaza, saying this lack of action places it on the wrong side of both history and current events.

For nearly two years, tens of thousands of British citizens have demonstrated across the country against Israel’s military offensive. The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has recently taken a tougher stance, including suspending 30 arms export licenses to Israel due to concerns over potential breaches of international humanitarian law. Still, critics argue that the response remains insufficient, calling for stronger sanctions and a halt to the export of F-35 jet components to Israel.

The survey also examined the views of those who voted for the Labour Party in the 2024 general election. Of Labour supporters who disapprove of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, 87 percent consider it genocide, and 78 percent agree with enforcing the ICC’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu.

Jonathan Purcell of the ICJP criticized both the UK government and the Labour Party for being disconnected from public opinion. He emphasized that UK policies should align with international legal standards, and the results of the poll reflect broad support for such compliance. According to him, there is no public will to damage the nation’s reputation by supporting what he described as a “rogue” state.