Israelis support re-establishing illegal settlements in Gaza, poll finds

A survey carried out by Israel's Channel 12 has found considerable support among Israelis for the re-establishment of illegal Israeli settlements in Gaza. 

Given a direct choice as to whether they favoured settlements, 44 percent said they were in favour, while 39 percent were against. The poll surveyed 502 people.

Asked what they think should happen after the war, 32 percent said that "Israel should remain permanently [in Gaza] and renew Jewish settlement", 30 percent favoured handing Gaza "to international trusteeship", 14 percent said Israel should "maintain a permanent military presence", while 10 percent said it should be "handed over for rule by the Palestinian Authority".

Fourteen percent said they did not know.

In 2005, Israel relocated around 8,000 Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers living in 21 settlements around Gaza to the occupied West Bank.