Nadine Osman
Seven out of ten people in Poland believe Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, according to a recent survey.
The poll, conducted by IPSOS for the think tank More in Common Polska between August 6–13, surveyed 1,200 respondents. It found that 43% of respondents “strongly agree” with the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s actions, while 27% rather agree and 7% somewhat agree. Only 7% disagreed, including 2% who strongly disagreed, and 23% said they did not know.
Adam Traczyk, Director of More in Common Polska, emphasised that recognising the severity of the violence does not necessarily mean taking sides in the conflict, “The survey shows that we see violence, can identify it, and want to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of this war. And this is regardless of our political viewpoints.”
The survey indicates that most Poles do not firmly support either side. Support for the Palestinians stands at 23%, up from roughly half that in a late-2024 survey, while support for Israel is 6%, down from 9%. When asked about responsibility for the situation in Gaza, 37% said it lies with Israel, 19% with Hamas, and the majority (44%) said both sides share responsibility.
Poles also overwhelmingly support humanitarian aid. More than two-thirds believe Poland should provide assistance to Gaza, including food, medicine, and hygiene products, with 34% answering “definitely yes” and 33% “rather yes.” Only 11% disagreed, including 4% who strongly disagreed.
Although no previous comparable polls have been conducted in Poland, the results suggest stronger agreement with the term “genocide” than in the United States, where a late-August Quinnipiac University poll found that half of US voters believe Israel is committing genocide, and 60% oppose further US military aid to Israel.
Poland’s official position continues to support a two-state solution, Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski told Polish Radio in August, “Poland can serve as an example when it comes to recognising the independence of the Palestinian state. Poland is among those European countries that recognise Palestine. It did so in 1988.”
The survey results come shortly after the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) passed a resolution stating that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide under the UN Convention.
