DayofPal– A new survey has revealed a disturbing surge in support among Israeli Jews for the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, echoing ancient biblical warfare narratives and reigniting debates about the ideological roots of Zionism.
The poll, conducted in March by a researcher affiliated with Penn State University and published Thursday in Haaretz, surveyed 1,005 Jewish Israelis. It found that a staggering 82% back the forced removal of all Palestinians from Gaza. The results have sent shockwaves through academic and human rights circles.
Perhaps most startling, nearly half of respondents (47%) expressed agreement with the idea that the Israeli army should emulate the ancient Israelites under Joshua at Jericho, killing all the inhabitants of a conquered city.
The poll also found a deep biblical underpinning to these views. Over 65% believe in a present-day version of Amalek, the archetypal enemy of the Jews in the Hebrew Bible. Of those who hold this belief, an overwhelming 93% support the divine commandment to “erase Amalek.”
Even among secular Jewish Israelis, 69% support expelling Gaza’s population, and nearly a third would endorse reenacting the biblical conquest of Jericho.
The generational divide adds a chilling layer to the findings. Among Israelis under the age of 40, 66% support the expulsion of Palestinian citizens of occupied Palestine, and 58% are open to military actions modeled after Jericho. Just 9% of men under 40 rejected all forms of expulsion or genocidal policies.
This sharp uptick in support for extreme measures marks a radical departure from earlier years. In 2003, just 45% supported the expulsion of Gazans, and only 31% backed the removal of Palestinian citizens of occupied Palestine.
Analysts and critics are sounding the alarm, connecting these attitudes to the ideological foundations of Israel itself.
As Haaretz noted: “Zionism is a settler-colonial movement, seeking to displace the native population. Such projects often face violent resistance from the indigenous, leading to calls for their removal. Hence, every colonial settlement contains the potential for ethnic cleansing and genocide—as seen in 17th–19th century North America or early 20th-century Namibia.”
The poll has ignited urgent debate in Israel and abroad about the trajectory of the war and the increasingly mainstream acceptance of what many observers view as genocidal rhetoric.
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