Majority of Americans Believe Israel’s War Effort in Gaza Is Justified

Recent polling shows that while a majority of Americans (58%) believe Israel’s war effort in Gaza is justified, 34% disapprove of how the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has handled the conflict, while 38% of U.S. adults think IDF conduct has been acceptable, and another 26% are unsure. The recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center highlights the slowly changing public opinion toward Israel. 

The polling comes off the heels of several controversial comments from public officials in Washington, D.C. Many are becoming more openly opinionated about the conflict, in which the IDF is conducting a comprehensive military response to the violent Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas that killed 1,300 Israeli civilians.

Polling shows that very few (5%) of Americans think the Oct. 7 attack was acceptable conduct, while 66% describe it as completely unacceptable. Further, only one in five American adults think Hamas’ reasons for fighting Israel are valid.

It is estimated that more than 30,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched its counterattack. There have been loud calls around the world, and in the United States, for a ceasefire, as well as multiple attempts by President Biden to temper the IDF response, but Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he will not rest until all Hamas has been completely destroyed.

Many Americans do not approve of Netanyahu’s conduct. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been heavily criticized (and lauded, by some) for a speech on the Senate floor in which he called for new elections in Israel. Schumer is the highest-ranking Jew in the history of American politics and a longtime friend of Israel who seems to have reached a breaking point on his support for Netanyahu and the Jewish State.

Former President Donald Trump has taken a different stance, expressing unconditional support for the IDF and Israel. In an interview last week, Trump was asked about Schumer’s speech. His response caused a furor.

“The Democrat Party hates Israel. Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion,” Trump said. “They hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.” 

Trump has been denounced by several Jewish-based coalitions for his comments. “That escalation of rhetoric is so dangerous, so divisive and so wrong,” said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest U.S. Jewish religious denomination. “This is a moment when Israel needs there to be more bipartisan support.”

The conflict is beginning to divide Washington – and the nation – along party lines. As the U.S. election draws closer and division grows deeper, this Mideast war will likely become an inescapable issue.