The poll, conducted by Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv, shows that 49 percent of respondents want an election to be called once a ceasefire is agreed between Israel and Hamas.

The same polling showed that 49 percent of respondents think war cabinet minister Benny Gantz is more suitable to lead the country than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received only 32 percent in the poll, al Jazeera reported.

Netanyahu’s popularity has plummeted since the October 7 attacks on southern Israel, his government’s handling of the war on Gaza, and his failure to secure the return of Israeli captives from the Palestinian territory.