Majority of British public wants immediate ceasefire in Gaza

A clear majority of the UK public backs calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 5,000 Palestinians have been killed in two weeks of Israeli bombing.

Over 5,000 Palestinians have been killed in two weeks of Israeli airstrikes, including 2,055 children, while 1,400 Israelis were killed in a Hamas-led attack on 7 October.

YouGov recently asked 2685 British adults the question: "From what you’ve read and heard, do you think there should or should not be an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine?"

Fifty-eight percent of those polled responded that there "definitely should", while 18 percent said, "there probably should".

Only three percent should "there should not be" an immediate ceasefire, roughly translating to overwhelming support for Palestinian calls for an end to the bombing of Gaza.

Israel has insisted on continuing its military bombardment and siege on Gaza - home to 2 million civilians - until Hamas is "wiped out".

The age group most likely to respond with "definitely should" was the 50-64 age category at 62 percent, with 43 percent of people aged 18-24 backing the ceasefire call.

Respondents in the North of England, South (not London), and Scotland were most likely to back a ceasefire, and people in Wales the least.

The polls coincide with two mass protests in London over the past two weeks where a quarter of a million people demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Despite the overwhelming public support for a truce in Gaza, the UK government has given Israel its support and said it has a "right to defend itself".

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) welcomed the results and called for UK politicians to heed the call of the public.

"It's so important that with all the division, discord, and negative media headlines and rhetoric, we tend to come together," said MCB Secretary-general Zara Mohammed in a video message.

(1/3) 58% of Britons think there should be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza (@YouGov)

MCB Secretary-General @ZaraM01 has released a video address regarding the latest crisis in #Palestine & how we can come together to help us navigate through this unprecedented crisis. pic.twitter.com/D5LCeymVPZ

— MCB (@MuslimCouncil) October 22, 2023

"Just to advocate on a 75-year-long campaign for the people of Palestine and an end to occupation, we are also about coming together as communities as a diverse, multicultural, multifaith Britain.

"We cannot allow the hatred that is coming from the situation to impact our communities today and we also can't let the free expression [of] this cause [to] be silenced."

Mohammed also called on the British public to advocate, raise awareness, and urgently help the people of Gaza.

Around 2 million people, including 1 million children, remain trapped in Gaza where extreme shortages of food, medical supplies, and fuel have been reported.

Gaza has been under blockade by Israel since Hamas's takeover of the enclave in 2007, making it an "open-air prison" according to rights groups.