Majority of Israeli Jews back talks with Hamas — poll

A majority of Israeli Jews support ceasefire talks with Hamas, according to a poll released today, but not unless the agreement includes the release of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers the Gaza terror group is believed to be holding.

Among Israeli Jews, 57 percent said they support holding talks with Hamas, with these numbers jumping to 70% and 81% respectively among voters on the center and left of the political spectrum.

But despite majority support for talks, 78% of Israeli Jews said Israel should reject any potential agreement with Hamas if it did not include the return of soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, whose remains have been held in Gaza since they were killed in the 2014 war.

The survey, conducted as part of the Israel Democracy Institute’s monthly peace index, is released amid reports of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement ending months of violence along the Gaza border and improve humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave.