Those who sympathise most with Israel are split on how likely they are to have committed war crimes
Accusations of war crimes have been levelled at both sides in the current fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Indeed, a recent statement by the UN’s top human rights official, Volker Türk, said that “clear violations of international humanitarian law, including possible war crimes, have been committed by all parties”.
Now a new YouGov survey shows that most Britons likewise believe that both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes in the latest round of conflict.
Do Britons think Israel has committed war crimes?
Two thirds of Britons (67%) believe it is likely that Israel has committed war crimes during their attack on Gaza since October. Just 10% think this is unlikely.
Opinion is split among those who say they sympathise more with Israel in the conflict, with 46% thinking it likely that their side has committed war crimes to 43% who consider it unlikely.
Among those who tend to support the Palestinians, expectations that Israel has committed war crimes are almost universal, at 96%, while among those who say they sympathise with both sides equally, 78% think it is likely that Israel has committed war crimes.
Do Britons think Hamas has committed war crimes?
Seven in ten Britons (72%) think it is likely that Hamas has committed war crimes during their October attacks on Israel and/or in the fighting in Gaza since then. Only 6% think this is unlikely.
Three quarters (74%) of those who sympathise with the Palestinians most in the conflict believe it is likely that Hamas has committed war crimes – although 16% disagree.
Almost all of those who are more on Israel’s side think it is likely that Hamas has committed war crimes (96%), as do 87% of those who say they sympathise with both sides equally.
Combining respondents’ answers to both questions shows that 60% believe it is likely that both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes in the current conflict.
Photo: Getty
