UK Poll Shows Deep Public Divide With Government Over Gaza

LONDON-A majority of respondents in a new UK opinion poll believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, while only a small minority disagree, according to a survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), highlighting a widening gap between public opinion and the British government’s position on the conflict.

The survey, conducted on July 2 and 3, found that 50% of respondents said they believed genocide was taking place in Gaza, while 17% said they did not believe Israel was committing genocide. The remaining respondents said they were uncertain.

The findings come as the UK government has continued to stop short of describing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide, maintaining instead that Israel is at risk of breaching international law.

The poll also indicated declining public support for maintaining close ties with Israel. Only 15% of respondents said Israel should remain an ally of the United Kingdom, while 55% favored ending that relationship.

Caabu Director Chris Doyle said the results should serve as a warning to Britain’s political leadership, arguing that public opinion, including among Labour Party supporters, has shifted significantly on the issue.

According to the survey, 67% of people who voted Labour in the 2024 general election believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The debate over the legal characterization of Israel’s actions has intensified internationally since the war began. In January 2024, the International Court of Justice said there were plausible grounds to consider claims brought under the Genocide Convention, while ordering provisional measures in the case. In September 2025, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that genocide was taking place in Gaza. Israel has consistently rejected allegations of genocide.

The poll also found substantial public backing for stronger economic measures against Israel. Forty-eight percent of respondents supported banning trade with Israeli settlements, with support rising to 62% among Labour voters.

Support for restricting military cooperation was also pronounced. Seventy-two percent of Labour voters favored a complete suspension of UK arms exports to Israel, despite the government declining to adopt such a policy.

Caabu said the findings illustrated what it described as a significant disconnect between government policy and the views of the electorate on Israel and Palestine. The organization argued that the public increasingly expects the government to take stronger measures in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Joseph Willits, Caabu’s head of parliamentary affairs, called for an immediate ban on trade with Israeli settlements, describing it as the minimum step expected from a future government. He said such a measure would signal opposition to settlements and reflect growing public demands for accountability.

The British government has not changed its official position, continuing to avoid describing the conflict as genocide while emphasizing the importance of compliance with international law and humanitarian obligations.

The YouGov survey adds to a growing body of opinion polling suggesting that the Gaza conflict has become a significant domestic political issue in the United Kingdom, particularly among Labour supporters, as debate continues over Britain’s diplomatic, economic and military relationship with Israel.