Majority of Britons Believe Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza, Poll Shows
A new YouGov poll commissioned by the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) has found that only 17% of people in the UK think Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza. In contrast, 50% of respondents said they believe genocide is taking place, while the remainder were unsure. The survey, conducted on July 2-3, 2026, suggests that the views of the British public are sharply at odds with the stance of the UK government, which has so far refused to label Israel's actions as genocide.
Public Opinion on UK-Israel Relations
The poll also revealed that just 15% of the public believe Israel should remain an ally of the UK, with 55% actively wanting a break in such ties. Among Labour voters in the 2024 general election, 67% believe Israel is committing genocide, according to Caabu's director, Chris Doyle. He stated: “Whoever replaces Keir Starmer (as prime minister) should be aware that 67 percent of Labour voters in 2024 believe Israel is committing genocide. This strength of public opinion should be ignored no longer.”
International Legal Context
In January 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that there were plausible grounds to believe Israel was committing genocide, a view supported by numerous independent experts. In September 2025, a UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that genocide was indeed taking place. Despite these findings, the UK government has only stated that Israel is at risk of breaking international law, stopping short of declaring genocide.
Trade and Arms Embargo Support
The survey also showed that 48% of people favor a ban on trade with Israeli settlements. This figure rises to 62% among those who voted for the Labour government. Additionally, 72% of Labour voters believe the UK should impose a full arms export ban on Israel, a measure the government has so far refused to implement. Caabu said the poll “demonstrates the huge chasm between the position of the government and the electorate on the issue of Israel-Palestine.”
Calls for Government Action
Joseph Willits, Caabu’s head of parliamentary affairs, said in a press release: “An immediate and complete settlement trade ban is the bare minimum requirement expected of a new administration, one demanded by UK Parliamentarians and the public alike. It’s time to send a strong signal to Israel and its supporters that these illegal settlements have to end, and also that the perpetrators of genocide are undeserving of allyship. The public know this and have consistently demanded consequences. It’s time the UK government did too.”
