A majority of Americans currently do not support Israel’s military operation against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
A Gallup poll released Wednesday found that 55% of American adults disapprove of the Jewish state’s actions in Gaza, while only 36% approve. This is a dramatic improvement from November, when 50% of respondents approved of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and 45% disapproved immediately after Gaza. Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th.
The poll comes amid renewed tensions between the Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the conduct of the nearly six-month war, including plans by the Israel Defense Forces to carry out operations in the densely populated southern city of Gaza. The announcement was made as the lowest level was reached. Rafa’s.
Wednesday’s poll found that just 18% of self-identified Democrats support Israel’s actions in Gaza, down from 36% in November, and 75% disapprove.
Even among self-identified Republicans, pro-Israel sentiment has waned, with 64% supporting a military response (down from 71% in November) and 30% disapproving.
Fewer than 3 in 10 self-proclaimed independents support Israel’s actions, and 60% say they do not support them.
Support for Israel was high among respondents who said they were following the Middle East wars “very closely.”
Among this group, 43% said they approve of Israel’s actions, compared to 37% of those who follow events “somewhat closely” and say they do not follow them closely. 27% said so.
Last week, Gallup It was revealed that Mr. Biden’s response to the Middle East conflict had a high approval rating. was the lowest of all major issues at just 27%.
On Monday, the United States authorized the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with no veto and no abstentions. Note that the measure did not condition the ceasefire on the release of the estimated 100 hostages held in Gaza since October 7 and the bodies of around 30 prisoners believed to have died in captivity. Should.
Israeli officials publicly criticized the Biden administration over the move, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew plans to send a delegation to Washington to discuss the situation in Rafah.
Still, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan this week.
Negotiations in Qatar aimed at securing the release of the hostages quickly collapsed after Hamas demanded that Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza and approve an exchange of Palestinian prisoners.
The Gallup poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points and was conducted March 1-20 among 1,016 adults.
