* Half the country (51%) say he is handling the UK’s response to the Gaza crisis badly *

* Majority of public (60%) support the UK considering sanctions on Israel if it continues its military offensive, restrictions on humanitarian aid and expansion of settlements in the West Bank *

Breaking: Half of the country (51%) believes Prime Minister Keir Starmer is handling the UK response to the Israel-Palestine conflict badly, according to YouGov polling commissioned by Avaaz - the multi-million person human rights group - on the public’s attitudes to imposing sanctions on Israel.

The findings expose a yawning gulf between Starmer and the country, with just 19% of people saying he is handling the UK’s response to Gaza well, and half (51%) saying he is handling it badly.

The polling also reveals a resounding call for the Government to take action, with half of Brits (51%) saying the government should be doing more to call on Israel to lift the blockade of food and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip (with only 17% think the government is doing the right amount). Sixty percent of those polled - and an even larger share of Labour voters (79%) - support the UK considering imposing sanctions on Netanyahu’s government if Israel continues the military offensive on Gaza, its restriction on aid, and its expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

The poll comes after the UN announced that 14,000 babies could starve in Gaza, unless Israel lifts its aid blockade and lets food in.

A majority of Brits (56%) support both suspending arms sales to Israel, and freezing the assets of Israeli officials implicated in international law violations. The full breakdown of the poll shows:

● 60% of Brits agree with the UK’s position to consider imposing sanctions on Netanyahu’s government if Israel doesn’t cease its military offensive, its restriction of aid, and expansion of settlements in the West Bank (79% of Labour voters, 54% of

Conservative voters, 77% of Liberal Democrat voters, and 27% of Reform voters);

● 56% of Brits support suspending UK arms sales to Israel (71% Labour voters, 46% of Conservative voters, 68% of Liberal Democrat voters, and 35% of Reform voters);

● 56% of Brits support freezing the assets of Israeli officials implicated in international law violations (74% of Labour voters, 48% of Conservative voters, 70%

of Liberal Democrat voters and 30% of Reform voters);

● 38% of Brits back a full embargo on Israeli goods (51% of Labour voters, 27% of

Conservative voters, 47% of Liberal Democrat voters, and 19% of Reform voters);

● 33% of Brits are in favour of recalling the UK ambassador from Israel (40% of Labour voters, 25% of Conservative voters, 34% of Liberal Democrat voters, and 22% of Reform voters).

Avaaz Chief Executive Bert Wander said: I don’t know how anyone can see what’s being done to the people of Gaza — bombs on kids, starving people gunned down as they scramble for food — and think silence and inaction is okay. This poll shows most people in the country don’t understand that either. They want the government to stand up for humanity and impose sanctions on Israel. Not tomorrow. Now.”

The poll adds further pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act, with momentum building across British society for the UK government to sanction Israel. More than 770,000 people globally (and over 48,000 UK citizens) signed a viral open letter from Avaaz calling on Prime Minister Starmer to sanction Israel and let aid reach Gaza’s children.

This comes as an increasing number of MPs, charities, NGOs, writers, lawyers, and artists have all been speaking out against the war. This Wednesday, thousands are expected to surround Parliament in a massive human chain symbolising red lines crossed and demanding an arms embargo on Israel to help end the blockade that's preventing much needed food and aid into Gaza.

Notes to editor:

- About the polling:

- All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,075 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th - 30th May 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

- More information about Avaaz:

- Avaaz is a global campaigning organization with 70 million members worldwide working passionately to solve the biggest challenges of our time. From defending human rights and protecting democracies, from fighting disinformation to standing up for indigenous rights, ensuring biodiversity protected areas, and pushing governments for urgent climate action, Avaaz has a proven track record of creating powerful visuals at key moments - HERE and HERE.

ENDS

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