Right-wing political figures responded Thursday morning to the Israel Hayom poll indicating that more than half of Israelis support renewed Jewish settlement in Gaza (52% of poll respondents).
The Nachala settlement movement called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the government to "make a courageous decision and immediately begin building Jewish communities in northern Gaza. This is a national mission of the highest order – returning settlement to Gaza is not only a moral response but a security and strategic necessity."
Wednesday saw a march in northern Gaza border communities, within touching distance of where the former communities of Nissanit, Dugit, and Elei Sinai once stood. Thousands of participants – including hostage families, bereaved families, Gush Katif evacuees, soldiers, rabbis, and Knesset members – called out "returning to the Gaza region."
Responding to the poll, Yehuda Wald, Religious Zionism party CEO, wrote on his X account, "The truth is it's a miracle. Despite all the panic in the channels, despite all the dire explanatory commentary from the former officials, despite all the blackening and delegitimization campaign against Religious Zionism people who express these value positions, large segments of the Israeli people haven't lost their way. They want to return to Gush Katif, they want to defeat Hamas, and they want courage and not weakness. There is hope."
One of the most surprising elements in the Israel Hayom poll was the sweeping support from the Haredi public for renewed settlement in Gaza. While their Knesset representatives remain silent regarding this move, and specifically the religious Zionist public is identified with the initiative, 83% of Haredim responded that settlement in Gaza should be renewed, compared to only 5% who answered it should not be done, and the remainder who answered they don't know.
Among the religious public, 67% believe Jewish settlement in Gaza should be renewed, compared to 17% who answered negatively to such an initiative, and the remainder who answered "don't know." Among secular Israelis, there is 50% opposition to renewed settlement in Gaza, compared to 29% who answered positively, and the remainder who answered they don't know.
