The majority of French people express clear support for the Israeli government’s desire to eliminate Hamas, as indicated by an Ifop poll commissioned by the Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF). This support is primarily rooted in the fear that the conflict could spill over into France.
72% of French people are concerned that an attack similar to the one on October 7th, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,400 Israelis, could potentially happen in France.
The poll also reveals that nearly 37% of those surveyed express sympathy for Israel, while only 20% do so for the Palestinian Authority, and just 5% for Hamas.
However, it’s worth noting that support for Israel varies significantly depending on the political affiliations of those questioned.
For instance, 60% of supporters of the political party LR express sympathy for the Hebrew State, whereas among France insoumise supporters, this figure is considerably lower at 27%, well below the French average.
There is also an age-based disparity among those surveyed. Among individuals over 60, 43% expressed sympathy for Israel, while this figure stood at 33% among the 18-25 age group. It appears that young people are less inclined to adopt the resolute stances advocated by the government in support of Israel.
Despite this generational gap, the majority of the French population still supports Israel’s decision to eliminate the terrorist group.
