Israelis war-weary but most oppose Iran ceasefire, poll suggests

Israelis war-weary but most oppose Iran ceasefire, poll suggests

War Weariness and Ceasefire Sentiment

Liat Zvi stands beside the shattered remnants of her Tel Aviv apartment, her voice tinged with weariness. “It’s disheartening,” she says, “we’ve been in this war for over two years and it feels like we’re just repeating the same cycle.” Six weeks prior, her neighborhood bore the brunt of Tehran’s retaliation against US-Israeli strikes. An Iranian missile bypassed Israel’s layered defenses, striking a residential building and killing Mary Anne Velasquez de Vera, a 32-year-old Filipina caregiver. This marked the first death in Israel during the Iran conflict, which now stands at a fragile standstill.

Despite the toll of prolonged hostilities, a recent poll by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals a complex sentiment among Israelis. While many express fatigue, two-thirds remain skeptical of a potential ceasefire with Iran. The majority believe neither Iran nor Hezbollah in Lebanon have been significantly weakened by recent US and Israeli strikes. When asked to describe their current emotions, a third of respondents used the word “despair,” followed by “confusion” and “anger.” “Hope” ranked fourth, underscoring a cautious outlook.

“If we’re not going to break the support Iran gives its proxies here, then this ceasefire is meaningless,” Zvi states. “You need to approach the table with strength.”

Split in Public Opinion

Public opinion is divided on whether Israel should persist in targeting Iran. A slim majority—39.5%—argues that attacks on Tehran must continue, while 41.4% advocate respecting the ceasefire. The poll surveyed 1,312 Israelis, including 1,084 Jews and 228 Arabs, representing the broader population. Notably, less than a fifth of Arab respondents supported resuming strikes.

The conflict has highlighted a persistent divide between Israel’s Jewish majority and Arab minority. At its onset, a survey by the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) found 61% of Arabs favored an immediate ceasefire. In contrast, the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) reported 93% of Jews backed the war on Iran, compared to 26% of Arabs.

Hezbollah and the Ceasefire Terms

Zvi’s frustration extends to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. “Peace must wait until Hezbollah surrenders its weapons,” she explains. The Hebrew University poll aligns with this view, showing most Israelis agree Lebanon should not be part of the Iran ceasefire. Israel, backed by the United States, insists the Hezbollah conflict is a separate issue, requiring eradication of the northern border threat.

Pakistan, the broker of the ceasefire agreement, included Lebanon in the deal. Iran also threatened to restart attacks if strikes on the country continued. Upcoming talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington DC aim to address this, but few expect dramatic progress. Netanyahu’s participation followed pressure from President Trump to reduce attacks on Lebanon after the ceasefire began.

The Lebanese health ministry reported over 350 casualties—more than a third women and children—during the air strikes last Wednesday. This underscores the human cost of the conflict, even as political debates continue over its long-term goals.