A Maariv newspaper poll showed, on Friday, that 54% of Israelis consider reaching an exchange deal more important than launching a military operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.

The poll also showed that 47% of Israelis prefer War Council member Benny Gantz as prime minister, compared to 33% who choose current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In the details of the poll, it appeared that 79% of right-wing party voters support a military operation in Rafah, compared to 81% of center-left party voters who support a prisoner exchange deal.

In response to a question: If the government decides to accept a deal to return detainees in Gaza, should Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir resign from the government? The answers were: Yes - 47%, No - 28%, I don't know - 25%.

In response to a question: If the Israeli government decides not to accept the exchange deal, should Ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot resign from the government? The answers were: Yes - 38%, No - 41%, I don't know - 21%.