A majority of Israelis believe “absolute victory” in Gaza is unlikely, according to a new opinion poll.

Both Jewish (51 per cent) and Arab (77.5 per cent) Israelis said there is a low likelihood of achieving such an outcome.

The Israel Democracy Institute’s eleventh War in Gaza survey addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement that Israel is aiming to achieve an “absolute victory”.

Among Jews, the majority on the left (84 per cent) and in the centre (63 per cent) say there is a low likelihood of achieving absolute victory while on the right, 55 per cent say there is a high likelihood of doing so.

The survey repeated a question asked in January about support for a political agreement to end the war which includes the release of all the hostages, an extended ceasefire and the establishment of a demilitarised Palestinian state in the long term. The results showed a greater degree of support since last month for such an agreement among both Jewish and Arab Israelis, though the majority of Jewish Israelis (55 per cent) are still opposed.

The poll also found that 63 per cent of Jewish Israelis are opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state, while 73 per cent of Arab Israelis support it. When asked how they think the establishment of a Palestinian state would affect Palestinian terrorism against Israel, 44 per cent of Jewish Israelis expressed the belief that terrorism will become even stronger, while 41 per cent of Arab respondents said they believe that terrorism will cease.

Respondents were also surveyed on their opinion of whether Israel should allow the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza residents via international bodies that are not linked to Hamas or to Unrwa: 68 per cent of Jewish respondents oppose the transfer of humanitarian aid even under these conditions, while a large majority of Arab respondents support it (85 per cent).

Survey conducted by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research. Data collection was carried out between 12-15 February.