Survey Reveals Students’ Views on Hamas and Other Key Issues

According to a recent survey, over 25% of British university students believe the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 was “defensible.” This finding, released by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), highlights a significant disconnect between students and the broader British public on various controversial topics.

The Savanta poll, conducted from May 5 to 13, revealed that amid the brutality of the October attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 civilians and numerous hostages, 28% of students surveyed defended Hamas’s actions. In contrast, only 4% of the general British population justified the attack, according to a 2024 YouGov poll.

HEPI’s report suggests that even though there is a difference between “justified” and “defensible,” it’s interesting to note that a notable number of students might consider Hamas’s actions justified compared to the general adult population.

When it comes to Israel’s response, students appear less supportive, with only 18% believing it was justified. In fact, 50% of students considered Jerusalem’s actions “indefensible.”

The survey further indicated that students hold distinct views on several other issues, including nuclear disarmament. About 72% of students were in favor of unilateral disarmament for the UK, a stark contrast to just 11% of the wider public.

On the topic of reparations for historical slavery, 47% of students supported the notion that Britain should pay reparations, even though the country played a key role in abolishing the slave trade. Conversely, only 24% of the general population agreed.

Interestingly, the Green Party emerged as the most supported political group among university students, with 35% backing it. This is significantly higher than other parties, like Labour (12%), British Reform Party (8%), Liberal Democrats (7%), and Conservatives (6%). Many students, about 24%, also expressed no intention to vote, while 5% were unsure about their voting status.