A majority of Americans say they want the United States to continue supporting Israel's war against Hamas until the remaining hostages in Gaza are released, according to a Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll.
In opinion polls, Released ThursdayThe survey found that 60 percent of respondents were in favor of the United States “supporting Israel militarily until the hostages are returned,” one of Israel's main objectives in its Gaza military operation.
But Americans are less in favor of supporting Israel after the hostages are released. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country has another important goal in its military operation in Gaza: eradicating Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that governs the Palestinian territories.
But Americans are less in favor of supporting Israel beyond the release of the more than 100 hostages still being held in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He said the country has another important objective in its military operations. — Eliminate Hamas, the US-designated terrorist organization that governs the Gaza Strip.
“The war could end tomorrow if Hamas disarms, surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages,” Netanyahu said in a joint parliamentary address last month. “But if they don't, Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas' military power, end its rule in Gaza and return all the hostages home.”
Only about half of survey respondents (49%) said they supported the United States providing military support to Israel until Hamas was dismantled or destroyed.
The poll finds that two-thirds of Republicans (67%) hold this view, while fewer than half of Democrats (41%) and independents (44%) agree.
When asked about the amount of military aid the United States provides to Israel, a majority overall (43%) said either that the United States provides Israel with the right amount of military aid (26%) or that it does not provide enough (17%).
This result is driven by strong Republican support for continuing military aid to Israel: A majority of Republican respondents (63%) say the amount of military aid the U.S. provides to Israel is either adequate (29%) or insufficient (34%).
Majorities of Democrats (42%) and independents (39%) are more likely to say the US gives Israel “too much” military aid. Twenty-eight percent of Democrats say the amount is appropriate and 7% say it's not enough. Twenty-two percent of independents say it's appropriate and 14% say it's not enough.
The poll came amid growing concerns about rising tensions in the region, fears that now appear to be becoming a reality as Israel faces multiple threats from Iran and its proxy militia groups.
The Ipsos survey was conducted June 21-July 1 among 2,106 respondents. The overall sampling margin of error is 2.3 percentage points but is wider for partisan subgroups.
