A majority of Americans support Israel and oppose Hamas in the ongoing war, according to a new poll.
The poll touched most key questions relating to the war between Israel and Hamas, including which sides Americans favor, the designation of Hamas as a terrorist group, U.S. military responsibility for Israel, and the Gaza hospital blast, among other issues.
Eighty-four percent of Americans sided more with Israel in the war, while 16 percent sided with Hamas. The result varies by age group, with 95 percent of ages over 65 in favor of Israel and 5 percent siding with Hamas. In contrast, 52 percent of those aged 18 to 24 support Israel, while 48 percent sided with Hamas.
In general, older age groups were more in favor of Israel than younger ones.
The poll showed that the majority of Americans, 86 percent, thought the attack on Israel launched by Hamas was a terrorist attack; 78 percent said Hamas was designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. government; 79 percent classified Hamas fighters as terrorists, not militants; and 78 percent thought Hamas was not interested in Palestinians’ safety and well-being in Gaza.
Anti-Semitism
Fifty-eight percent of respondents said that college students who blamed Israel for killing 1,200 of their civilians condoned violence and terrorism. However, the majority of respondents, 55 percent, said that law firms should not punish these students for their support of Hamas.In addition, 85 percent of Americans said Hamas’s attack on Israel was intended to provoke war and instability in the Middle East, and 56 percent said the attack indicates widespread anti-Semitism among Palestinians.
The poll also found that 88 percent of voters said Israel has the responsibility to protect its citizens by launching air strikes on Hamas targets; 70 percent said Israeli forces should continue its military campaign to eliminate Hamas; and 63 percent said Israel was right to cut off power, water, and food to Gaza until hostages are freed.
Furthermore, 62 percent of Americans said the United States should stand with Israel and have a responsibility to provide military support to Israel; while 60 percent thought the United States should also have a responsibility to retaliate against Hamas for its killing of 20 Americans in the conflict.
This result is aligned with the U.S. administration as President Joe Biden has vowed to support Israel. On Oct. 18, the president visited the country to show his support following Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s earlier visits shortly after the conflict started. Two U.S. carrier strike groups were also deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean, Mr. Austin said on Oct. 14. On Oct. 20, President Biden asked Congress for $14 billion for Israel in a $106 billion package that also includes Ukraine and Taiwan.
Regarding the hospital blast in Gaza, which U.S. intelligence said had most likely originated from Hamas, 68 percent of respondents said it was a terrorist rocket that went off course, and the initial claim by Hamas that Israel bombed the hospital was Hamas propaganda; 73 percent think the media should have waited for more evidence rather than publishing earlier claims; and 70 percent said that members of Congress, who favor Hamas and blame Israel for the hospital bombing, should be censured for spreading false information and supporting terrorists.
In 1997, the Department of State designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization.
The poll was conducted online in the United States among 2,116 registered voters from Oct. 18 to 19.
Hamas terrorists launched surprise attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, killing over 1,200 Israeli civilians. The conflict quickly escalated when the Israeli forces took retaliatory assaults against Hamas as the country declared a state of war. Over 4,000 have been killed in the conflict, including 32 Americans.
