Most Americans now disapprove of Israel’s military action in Gaza new poll reveals as tensions rise between allies
A majority of Americans disapprove of Israel’s military operations against the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip.
A Gallup survey released Wednesday found that 55% of US adults disapprove of the Jewish state’s actions in Gaza while just 36% approve — a dramatic turnaround from November, when 50% approved of Israeli action in Gaza while 45% disapproved in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack.
The poll was published as relations between the Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit a new low over the conduct of the nearly six-month-old war — including plans for the Israel Defense Forces to conduct operations in the densely populated southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Israel has spent over six months retaliating against Hamas after the bloody Oct. 7 attack killed 1,200 Israelis. AP
Wednesday’s poll found that just 18% of self-identified Democrats approved of Israeli action in Gaza, down from 36% in November, while 75% disapproved.
Pro-Israel feeling has also waned among self-identified Republicans, with 64% approving of the military response (down from 71% in November) and 30% disapproving.
Fewer than three in 10 self-described independents approve of Israel’s actions, while 60% say they disapprove.
Support for Israel was higher among respondents who said they were following the war in the Middle East “very closely.”
Among that group, 43% said they approved of Israel’s action, compared with 37% approval among those tracking events “somewhat closely” and 27% who said they were “not following closely.”
Last week, Gallup revealed that Biden’s approval rating for his handling of the Middle East conflict stood at just 27%, his lowest for any major issue.
On Monday, the US allowed the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an “immediate” cease-fire in Gaza by abstaining rather than exercising its veto. The measure notably did not condition a cease-fire on the release of an estimated 100 hostages held in Gaza since Oct. 7, along with the remains of around 30 prisoners believed to have died in captivity.
Top Israeli officials publicly lashed out at the Biden administration over the move and Netanyahu scrapped plans to dispatch a delegation to Washington to discuss the Rafah situation.
Still, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan this week.
Negotiations taking place in Qatar meant to secure the release of hostages also quickly broke down after Hamas demanded 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 taken from March 1 to 20 among 1,016 adults.
