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Nearly half of Polish citizens say Israel’s crimes against Palestinians ‘comparable to Nazi Germany’

April 23, 2026

A study released on 21 April by the UNESCO Chair for interdisciplinary research on antisemitism at the University of Warsaw revealed that 45 percent of Polish citizens see Israel’s actions against Palestinians as similar to Nazi Germany’s treatment of Jews.

In Poland, 45 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that “Israel’s actions against Palestinians are no different from the Nazis’ treatment of Jews.” Only 18.7 percent disagreed, while 36.2 percent said they had no clear opinion.

The research was conducted by specialists in Holocaust studies across Eastern European universities, and found similar patterns were recorded across the region, with a sizable portion of the population viewing Israel’s actions toward Palestinians as comparable to Nazi treatment of Jews.

In Austria and Germany, over 40 percent agreed with the comparison, while around 25 percent disagreed.

Slovakia also saw over 42 percent agreement, while only around 15 percent opposed the notion.

More splits in opinion were reported elsewhere, with the Czech Republic and Hungary showing roughly similar shares for both agreement and opposition, at around 30 percent.

A notable share of respondents across all surveyed countries remained undecided, which the study suggests points to the sensitivity of the issue and the growing visibility of such comparisons in public discourse.

Across all surveyed countries, a notable share of respondents remained undecided.

A recent display in Poland saw MP Konrad Berkowicz present an Israeli flag marked with a swastika in parliament, denouncing Israel’s actions, saying “Israel is in the process of committing a genocide of exceptional cruelty before our very eyes.”

Polish far-right MP Konrad Berkowicz sparks outrage after displaying an Israeli flag with a swastika in parliament, calling Israel the “new Third Reich” over Gaza. pic.twitter.com/ACvD1yv4bM

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 15, 2026

“Israel is the new Third Reich, and its flag should look exactly like this,” Berkowicz stated.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has also called for accountability over Israeli war crimes and human rights abuses, stating that Israeli soldiers “killed not only Palestinian civilians but even their own hostages,” and that “Israeli soldiers themselves admit to war crimes.”

He pointed to a recent transgression where an Israeli soldier was filmed desecrating a crucifix in southern Lebanon, stressing that those responsible should face punishment.

An image approvingly shared by an Israeli soldier shows a statue of Jesus Christ in south Lebanon being struck with a mallet by a member of the Israeli occupation forces. pic.twitter.com/EUm5VKMm3S

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) April 19, 2026

The findings come as attitudes toward Israel shift sharply across Europe, at both public and government levels.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that Madrid will push to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement, while a European Citizens’ Initiative backing the move has already surpassed one million signatures, triggering a formal review by the European Commission.