Nearly 11 months into Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, a recent poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs revealed that 60% of Americans support the United States continuing its military aid to Israel until the hostages held by Hamas are released. However, this number drops to 49% when the goal shifts to dismantling Hamas, the group responsible for recent attacks in Israel.
The survey, conducted in late June and July, also highlighted a divided opinion among Americans regarding the US government's role in Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza. While 53% believe that military aid to Israel should not be used for operations against Palestinians, a narrow majority feels that the US is striking the right balance in its support for Israel.
With over 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the conflict began, concerns have been raised about the escalating violence. Despite calls for a ceasefire, Israel announced a new military operation in the West Bank, potentially intensifying the conflict further.
Political affiliations play a significant role in shaping opinions on US support for Israel. While Democrats are more likely to advocate for restrictions on military aid, Republicans tend to support Israel's actions and believe that the country is defending its interests.
The survey also highlighted a growing partisan divide on the issue of an independent Palestinian state, with Democrats increasingly backing the idea compared to Republicans.
Overall, the survey conducted by Ipsos, which polled 2,106 US adults, provides insights into the complex attitudes and opinions of Americans towards the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The margin of sampling error for the survey is plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
