New polling shows extent of sympathy for Hamas and frightening trends of radicalism among young Britons

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) commissioned YouGov to survey British adults’ attitudes towards Jews.

The polling has revealed very concerning levels of support for Hamas and antisemitic views, especially among young people in Britain.

As we mark one year since Hamas’ barbaric attacks in Israel, levels of antisemitism in Britain have never been higher.

Here are some key takeaways from the polling:

Views on Hamas

• Almost one in ten – 9% – of 18-24 year olds have a favourable view of Hamas, compared to 3% of the general British public. More than two thirds (68%) of the British public has an unfavourable view of Hamas, as do 50% of young Britons.
• More than one eighth of British 18-24 year olds (13%) do not believe that reports that Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis in the attacks on 7th October 2023 are broadly true, compared to 7% of the wider British public. Just over half (55%) of the British public think that those reports are broadly true, compared to 39% of 18-24 year olds.
• An astounding 16% of young British adults believe that the attacks carried out by Hamas on 7th October 2023 were justified, compared to 7% of the wider British public. This figure rises to 28% among people identifying as “very left-wing”.
• More than one eighth of British 18-24 year olds (13%) believe that the British Government is wrong to classify Hamas as a terrorist group, compared to 7% of the British public and an astonishing 31% among the “very left-wing”.
• Over half (59%) of the British public would be less likely to visit a city centre if they knew a large pro-Palestinian march was due to happen.

Antisemitic attitudes

• One third (33%) of the British public believes that Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews, which is antisemitic according to the International Definition of Antisemitism. This is the highest figure that we have recorded in our polling. Even more worryingly, the figure rises to a shocking 48% – nearly half – of 18-24 year olds. More than two-thirds (68%) of those who identify as “very left-wing” hold the same view. Among 2024 Labour voters, the figure is 45%, compared to 36% for Lib Dems voters, 22% of Conservative voters, and 18% of Reform voters.
• Almost one in five (18%) British people believe that Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media, a figure that rises to a shocking 33% – one third – among 18-24s.
• Almost one quarter (23%) of 18-24s do not believe that Israel is right to defend itself against those who want to destroy it, compared to 7% across the whole population. This number rises to one third (33%) among the far-left.
• Nearly one fifth (18%) of young people do not believe that Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. Overall among the British public, the figure is 8%. Interestingly, among 2024 Lib Dem voters, it is one in ten, which is higher than other mainstream political parties.
• Almost one-fifth (19%) of the British public is not comfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel. Among young people, it is 41%, nearly double the 21% figure recorded in December 2023.
• Almost a quarter (22%) of the general population think that Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy. Among young people, the figure is a staggering 43%. A quarter (25%) of 2024 Labour voters believe this as well, as do 22% of Lib Dem voters, 17% of Reform voters and 10% of Conservative voters.
• One in ten people in Britain believe that compared to other groups, Jewish people have too much power in the media. Among 18-24 year olds, this rises to 16%.
• One in ten young people believe that Jewish people talk about the Holocaust just to further their political agenda. Among the general public, the figure is 7%.
• Nearly one-tenth (9%) of British young adults do not believe that Jewish people can be trusted just as much as other British people in business, which is almost double the 4% of the general British public.

The YouGov survey was designed in collaboration with Campaign Against Antisemitism and using the Generalised Antisemitism Scale, more on which below.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Extremism is becoming normalised in our country, and as ever Jews are the canaries in the coal mine. This week marks one year since the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, but here in Britain we need to turn our attention to the home front, where British society is changing before our eyes. Most alarming of all, our young people are becoming radicalised at a far greater rate than the rest of the population, sympathising with terrorists and espousing extreme anti-Jewish racism. If the authorities continue to let radicalism run rampant on campuses and on social media, it will not be long before we are looking over our shoulders at generation hate.”

Full results

(Figures in brackets represent the 18-24 answers)

Jewish people can be trusted just as much as other British people in business

• Strongly agree 42 (47)
• Agree 35 (30)
• Neither agree nor disagree 18 (15)
• Disagree 2 (4)
• Strongly disagree 2 (5)

Jewish people are just as loyal to Britain as other British people

• Strongly agree 33 (33)
• Agree 33 (29)
• Neither agree nor disagree 28 (30)
• Disagree 4 (2)
• Strongly disagree 2 (6)

I am just as open to having Jewish friends as I am to having friends from other sections of British society

• Strongly agree 58 (66)
• Agree 31 (24)
• Neither agree nor disagree 9 (6)
• Disagree 1 (3)
• Strongly disagree 1 (1)

Compared to other groups, Jewish people have too much power in the media

• Strongly agree 3 (4)
• Agree 7 (12)
• Neither agree nor disagree 42 (29)
• Disagree 26 (31)
• Strongly disagree 22 (24)

Jewish people talk about the Holocaust just to further their political agenda

• Strongly agree 2 (2)
• Agree 5 (8)
• Neither agree nor disagree 26 (26)
• Disagree 29 (29)
• Strongly disagree 38 (35)

Jewish people chase money more than other people do

• Strongly agree 3 (4)
• Agree 9 (6)
• Neither agree nor disagree 42 (35)
• Disagree 21 (26)
• Strongly disagree 25 (30)

I am comfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel

• Strongly agree 12 (9)
• Agree 23 (12)
• Neither agree nor disagree 46 (38)
• Disagree 13 (22)
• Strongly disagree 6 (19)

Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people

• Strongly agree 20 (14)
• Agree 37 (25)
• Neither agree nor disagree 34 (44)
• Disagree 5 (10)
• Strongly disagree 3 (8)

Israel is right to defend itself against those who want to destroy it

• Strongly agree 19 (10)
• Agree 43 (31)
• Neither agree nor disagree 30 (36)
• Disagree 4 (11)
• Strongly disagree 3 (12)

Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy

• Strongly agree 7 (22)
• Agree 15 (21)
• Neither agree nor disagree 47 (39)
• Disagree 19 (13)
• Strongly disagree 11 (5)

Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media

• Strongly agree 5 (12)
• Agree 13 (21)
• Neither agree nor disagree 44 (42)
• Disagree 24 (18)
• Strongly disagree 13 (7)

Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews

• Strongly agree 12 (22)
• Agree 21 (26)
• Neither agree nor disagree 41 (39)
• Disagree 16 (6)
• Strongly disagree 10 (7)

Since last year there have been regular marches in many city centres in support of Gaza. If you were due to visit a city centre when you knew a large pro-Palestinian march was due to happen, would it put you off from visiting?

• It would make me less likely to go 59 (35)
• It wouldn’t make any more or less likely to go 27 (34)
• It would make me more likely to go 4 (16)
• Don’t know 10 (14)

Do you have a favourable or unfavourable view of Hamas?

• Very favourable 1 (1)
• Somewhat favourable 2 (8)
• Somewhat unfavourable 19 (17)
• Very unfavourable 49 (33)
• Don’t know 29 (40)

From what you have seen or heard, do you think the attacks that Hamas launched on Israel on 7th October 2023 were justified or unjustified?

• Justified 7 (16)
• Unjustified 61 (35)
• Don’t know 32 (49)

The British Government currently classifies Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Do you think they are right or wrong to class them as terrorists?

• Right to class them as terrorists 64 (53)
• Wrong to class them as terrorists 7 (13)
• Don’t know 29 (34)

It has been reported that Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis in the attacks on the 7th October 2023. From what you have seen or heard, do you think these reports are…

• Broadly true 55 (39)
• Broadly untrue 7 (13)
• Not sure 38 (48)

Background and Methodology

The twelve statements – which include six relating to Judeophobic antisemitism and six relating to anti-Zionist antisemitism – together comprise the Generalised Antisemitism Scale.

The Generalised Antisemitism Scale was devised by Dr Daniel Allington of King’s College London, Dr David Hirsh of Goldsmiths, and Dr Louise Katz (then) of the University of Derby. The research behind the Generalised Antisemitism Scale has been peer reviewed.

In particular, in developing the Generalised Antisemitism Scale, they were guided by the International Definition of Antisemitism, which Campaign Against Antisemitism, together with other Jewish communal institutions from around the world, has long campaigned to be widely adopted. Further background on the Generalised Antisemitism Scale can be found here.

Our survey of British adults were conducted by YouGov Plc. The surveys were administered online to members of YouGov’s panel of over 1,000,000 British adults who have agreed to take part in surveys. E-mails were sent to adult panellists who fulfilled the requirements of the sample, inviting them to take part in the surveys, and providing a link to the survey. YouGov normally achieves a response rate of between 35% and 50% to surveys however this does vary depending on the subject matter, complexity and length of the questionnaire.

The total sample size was 2,615 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd-5th August 2024 by YouGov plc. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

YouGov ensured that there were no duplicate responses and that all respondents were adults living in Great Britain.

The responding sample was weighted according to age and gender, social grade, political attention level, education, and region, in addition to past voting behaviour, to provide a representative reporting sample. The profile is derived from the Census as well as the mid-year population estimates and Annual Population Survey published by the Office for National Statistics.