A majority of the Dutch condemn Israel’s refusal to let large-scale international aid transports into Gaza and over half think this should lead to more political pressure or a break in diplomatic relations, a poll by RTL news has shown.

Of the 17,000 members of the broadcaster’s news panel who participated in the poll, 79% criticised the Israeli stance on allowing in aid. “Humanitarian help should always be allowed,” one respondent. “Rice is not rockets,” said another.

Israel has labeled some much-needed humanitarian goods as “dual use”, meaning they could be used to help both civilians and Hamas, including much-needed fuel and medical supplies.

Half of the respondents said the international community must do more to help the population of Gaza while some 60% said the Dutch government should increase pressure on Hamas to release the hostages taken during the attack on Israel on October 8.

Just 15% of those polled said they understand Israel’s refusal to allow aid in. “Hamas is using the population as a shield, everybody knows that and it shows from their acts,” one panel member said, while another said “Hamas is among the population. You are not supplying food and medicine to the enemy.”

Sympathy for the people of Israel dropped to 51% compared to 67% in November but support for the Palestinian people also fell from 65% to 59%. Some 53% said they found it harder to “choose a side” in this conflict than in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The majority of the participants said they are worried about the consequences of the war for peace and stability in the Middle East although that number has dropped from 87% to 80%. Some 60% are worried about its effect on Europe, compared to 66% in November. Older generations are more worried than younger people.

Earlier this week, caretaker Dutch minister Mark Rutte said a planned Israeli ground offensive against Hamas in Rafah would lead to a humanitarian disaster.

Rutte, the leading candidate to take over the top job at Nato later this year, warned the offensive would be a “game changer” and have “political consequences”. He did not specify what those consequences might be.