The Israeli settler community has shown alarming public support for extrajudicial killings, collective punishment, and the use of human shields by the Israelis, all of which come in direct violation of international humanitarian law, DropSite reported, citing a new Israel Democracy Institute poll.

The poll surveyed 600 Jewish Israeli settler respondents and highlights deeply entrenched militaristic views amid the ongoing assault on Gaza and intensified aggression and ethnic cleansing, and mass forced displacement across the occupied West Bank, as defined by major global humanitarian organizations like MSF, HRW, and Amnesty. 

According to the poll, 62% of Jewish Israeli settlers say a Palestinian fighter should be killed even if they pose no threat, a stance that contravenes the principle of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law.

More than 55% of respondents supported the use of heavy firepower on Palestinian population centers following rocket attacks, indicating broad public support for indiscriminate war crimes.

Even more concerning, 53.8% of those surveyed supported the use of Palestinian civilians to check suspected booby-trapped buildings, effectively endorsing the use of human shields to protect Israeli soldiers.

Confidence in IOF conduct 

Despite repeated reports of violations in Gaza, 84% of responders rated the Israeli occupation military's conduct there as excellent or very good, reflecting deep public trust in the military's so-called morality.

At the same time, 60.6% said they oppose investigations into soldiers who abuse detained Palestinians, reinforcing the culture of impunity that rights groups have long condemned.

The findings underscore a growing hardline sentiment within Israeli settler society, where support for inherently violent and unlawful tactics against Palestinians is becoming not only normalized but heavily encouraged.

As international concern over "Israel's" attacks continues to grow, these poll results raise urgent questions about the future of accountability, human rights, and any path toward de-escalation.

Facets of settler violence

Settler support for the genocide in Gaza has become increasingly visible, both on social media and in public actions. Far-right settler groups have openly celebrated the destruction of Gaza, with some posting videos praising the mass displacement of Palestinians and calling for the full reoccupation of the Strip.

In recent months, settlers have organized demonstrations in support of the military's campaign, demanding a “second Nakba” and chanting slogans calling for the complete eradication of Palestinian presence in Gaza.

Settler leaders and members of the Knesset have echoed these sentiments, framing the assault as a “historic opportunity” to change the demographic and political reality of Gaza permanently, while others called for nuking Gaza entirely.

These calls have coincided with reports of soldiers and settlers distributing food packages bearing slogans like “No Arabs, no terrorists,” further highlighting the ideological alignment between settler movements and genocidal rhetoric targeting Palestinians.

Read more: Israeli settlers defy sanctions, join in expelling W.Bank Palestinians