Almost half of voters take war Gaza in voting behavior, majority believes that Israel commits genocide

Almost half of the Dutch let the war in Gaza be taken into account in the voting behavior for the upcoming parliamentary elections. This is apparent from a poll by research agency Motivaction commissioned by six human rights organizations including Pax and Amnesty International. Of the more than a thousand respondents, 42 percent give Gaza ‘somewhat’ to ‘a lot’ to be taken into account in the party choice. For 39 it plays ‘little’ or ‘not at all’.

According to the poll, a majority of the Dutch population finds that Israel commits genocide in Gaza. This is the case for 54 percent, while 12 percent disagree. A rise can be observed compared to the same poll in April. At the time, a narrow minority of 48 percent was of the opinion that Israel is guilty of genocide.

Striking is the strong decrease in the share of respondents that ‘I do not know/no opinion’ answers this statement. According to the researchers, that group formed a significant over -representation of 29 percent in April, while there is now a significant under -representation of 20 percent. Since April, two Israeli NGOs and the International Association of Genocide Scholars, among others, concluded that Israel commits genocide in Gaza. An independent UN investigation committee also came to that conclusion, albeit after the period in which the Motivaction questionnaire was taken.

Missing support for cabinet policy

A majority of the Dutch also believe that the Dutch government and the European Union should take action. For example, 57 percent for a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Also 54 percent think that the EU should no longer offer trade benefits to Israel, and 53 percent are in favor of stopping Dutch arms exports to Israel.

According to the government, it is currently ‘virtually excluded that a permit is granted for exports to Israel of weapons that can contribute to the activities of the Israeli armed forces in the Gaza Strip or in the West Bank, ”said the now resigned Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) in a letter to parliament at the end of July. Since then it turned out that the cabinet had withdrawn three permits for arms export to Israel in July. At the moment there are still existing permits active.

“The figures of this opinion poll confirm that support for the government’s policy is largely lacking,” says Roelien Sasse, director of the Pax Foundation for the Pax Foundation. The missing support for the government policy is also apparent from the figures: 28 percent of the respondents think the current reaction of the Dutch government is good or think that Israel deserves more support. According to 48 percent of the Dutch, the Israel government has to support less than is currently happening. PAX director Sasse: “The Dutch population sees war crime after war crime in Gaza and wants the government to draw a clear red line.”

To share





Mail the editors