Nearly 11 months into Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, polling from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs indicates that 60% of Americans want the United States to continue its military support for Israel until the hostages held by Hamas are freed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet have identified the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities as a key goal in Gaza. However, not everyone agrees with this approach, as Israeli Defense Forces Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari has criticized promises to make Hamas vanish as outlandish.
The Chicago Council Survey and another poll from Council-IPSOS reveal that the US is divided over its role in Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, with 53% of respondents saying military aid to Israel should not be used toward operations against Palestinians. The conflict has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths as of August 16, with Israel recently announcing a new military operation in the West Bank. Despite some optimism for a ceasefire, the conflict continues to escalate.
Americans are split on their views of the US’s support for Israel, with 22% saying the US strikes the right balance, 20% saying not enough support, and 30% saying too much support. Both Democrats and Republicans have differing views on the level of military aid provided to Israel, with 42% of Democrats feeling there is too much support, compared to 34% of Republicans who believe more should be done.
There is a significant partisan divide on American attitudes toward Israel, with nearly 60% of Republicans believing Israel is defending its interests and justifying its military actions, compared to only 15% of Democrats who feel the same. On the other hand, 50% of Democrats believe Israel has gone too far and acted unjustifiably, while only 14% of Republicans agree. Independents are split evenly on the issue.
US support for an independent Palestinian state uniting the West Bank and Gaza Strip has remained steady at 49%, with Democrats increasingly backing the idea (67%) while Republicans are less likely to support it (27%). The partisan division on this issue has grown over the past six years, indicating a shift in public opinion. The survey conducted by Ipsos surveyed 2,106 US adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
In response to the ongoing conflict, Democratic leaders like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have criticized Netanyahu’s actions, while both President Biden and Vice President Harris have advocated for a ceasefire and expressed concern over the humanitarian impact of the war. Republicans have generally aligned with Netanyahu’s government, with former President Trump calling for Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza and criticizing the Israeli military’s handling of the conflict. Support for restricting military aid to Israel has remained relatively unchanged across party lines.
