New Survey Reveals Majority of Israeli Jews See Parallels Between October 7 Hamas Massacre and the Holocaust

By: Fern Sidman

A significant majority of Israeli Jews—57%—now believe that the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre bears comparison to the Holocaust, according to new data from the April 2025 Israeli Voice Index, released this week by the Israel Democracy Institute. The findings, as reported by The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) on Thursday call attention to the deep emotional and historical trauma still reverberating in Israeli society in the aftermath of the deadliest terror attack in the nation’s history.

The poll, conducted in March 2025, surveyed 600 Israeli Jewish adults and 149 Israeli Arab adults, and carries a margin of error of 3.5%. It reveals a modest but significant increase in the number of Jews endorsing the Holocaust comparison from 54% in April 2024 to 57% this year. Among Israeli Arabs, 44% made the comparison last year, although this year’s figure was not explicitly cited in the report.

According to the information provided in the JNS report, the survey reflects the lingering sense of existential threat many Israeli Jews associate with the October 7 attacks, during which over 1,200 Israelis were murdered and more than 250 kidnapped, as Hamas terrorists breached Israeli communities near the Gaza border. For many, the scale and targeting of civilians, including children and the elderly, evoked parallels to Nazi atrocities, a comparison that continues to fuel public debate in Israel and abroad.

The Israeli Voice Index, as detailed in the JNS report, also explored public sentiment around the potential for a hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas. The findings show that 62.5% of Israeli Jews remain “optimistic” that a deal can be reached to free the hostages still held in Gaza, compared to 31% who are pessimistic.

Among Israeli Arabs, optimism was even higher at 63%, while pessimism stood at 34%—a notable contrast that the JNS report attributed to differing political narratives and communal expectations around the outcome of the war and diplomacy in Gaza.

As part of its monthly index, the Israel Democracy Institute also asked participants to rate  the performance of key public figures, excluding elected politicians. According to the information in the JNS report, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir received the highest score among Jewish respondents, with a performance rating of 3.12 out of 4—a clear sign of public confidence in military leadership during an ongoing period of national crisis.

Among Israeli Arabs, however, Zamir’s score was significantly lower—2.18 out of 4—ranking him second-to-last among civil servants listed in the survey. JNS notes that Zamir only assumed his position in March 2025, replacing former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and that his early popularity among Jewish respondents reflects a desire for strong, decisive leadership amid continued military operations in Gaza and along the northern border with Lebanon.

The survey results, cited in the report on JNS, also point to a noticeable shift in Jewish optimism regarding both national security and the future of Israeli democracy. This year, 44% of Jewish respondents said they feel optimistic about Israel’s security, a sharp rise from just 32% in 2024. The optimism trend extends to governance, with 51% expressing faith in the future of Israel’s democratic system, compared to 35% a year earlier.

These figures may reflect public approval of the government’s military and counter-terror operations, as well as ongoing legal and institutional reforms. As per the report on JNS, such optimism is tempered by ongoing security concerns and the fragility of Israel’s regional alliances, particularly in light of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

One of the most provocative findings in the April 2025 survey, as highlighted in the JNS report, is the strong support among Israeli Jews for unilateral military action against Iran. A majority (52%) of Jewish respondents said they support a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, even without backing from the United States. Only 34.5% opposed such an action.

In contrast, Israeli Arab respondents overwhelmingly opposed unilateral action, with 76% against and only 9% in support. The stark divergence reflects deep-seated differences in threat perception, as well as concerns about regional escalation and the broader implications of such an attack.

The survey, reviewed in depth in the JNS report, asked respondents whether they believe Israel has experienced more successes or failures in recent times. Among Jews, 56% viewed the nation’s performance as marked by more successes, while 21% believed successes and failures were evenly balanced, and 17.5% felt failures outnumbered successes.

This relatively upbeat assessment may be linked to the Israel Defense Forces’ continued dismantling of Hamas’ infrastructure in Gaza, as well as successful intelligence operations targeting Iranian assets abroad. As the JNS report emphasized, the public appears to be distinguishing between short-term hardships and long-term strategic gains.

The survey also touched on perceptions of international allies, particularly President Donald Trump. Against the backdrop of renewed U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, 46% of Israeli Jews and 41% of Israeli Arabs said they believe Trump would prioritize Israeli security in any future diplomatic dealings.

This finding highlights the enduring trust placed by many Israelis in Trump’s pro-Israel credentials, especially in light of his administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Abraham Accords, and withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, according to the JNS report.

As reported extensively by JNS, the April 2025 Israeli Voice Index captures a nation still grappling with the trauma of October 7, but also showing signs of renewed resilience, confidence in its military leadership, and support for decisive action in the face of regional threats.

With public sentiment coalescing around the memory of October 7 as a historical turning point—one with Holocaust-level resonance for many—the Israeli public appears both determined to confront its enemies and reassert its democratic and security values in a volatile regional landscape.

The true test in the months ahead will be whether this unity of purpose can translate into lasting policy decisions, regional deterrence, and a renewed social contract between the state and its diverse population, as was noted in the JNS report.