Americans Maintain Overwhelming Support for Israel Amid Ceasefire With Hamas, Poll Finds
Pro-Israel rally in Times Square, New York City, US, Oct. 8, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
An overwhelming share of Americans remains supportive of Israel during its war against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll published this past weekend.
The poll — conducted from Jan. 15-16 among registered US voters — found that 79 percent of Americans support Israel and 21 percent support Hamas, indicating that the Jewish state has remained largely popular with the US public over the course of the 15-month-long war in Gaza.
Both major political parties strongly back the Jewish state, with 81 percent of Republicans, 75 percent of Democrats, and 80 percent of independents saying that they support Israel. In contrast, only 25 percent of Democrats, 19 percent of Republicans, and 20 percent of independents said that they support Hamas.
According to the polling, Israel has maintained strong support among all age brackets. Among those over age 65, the Jewish state enjoys a staggering 90 percent rate of support. Only 10 percent of respondents above 65 support Hamas. Among those aged 55-64, 83 percent support Israel and 17 percent support Hamas. Further, among respondents aged 45-54, 77 percent support Israel and 23 percent support Hamas.
Israel also enjoys strong support among the younger age cohorts, although by a narrower margin. Seventy-one percent of respondents aged 35-44 support Israel and 29 percent support Hamas. Meanwhile, according to the poll, 68 percent of respondents aged 25-34 support Israel, while 32 percent said they back Hamas. Those aged 18-24 support Israel by a margin of 79 to 21 percent.
The poll came after Israel and Hamas agreed last week to a three-phase ceasefire and hostage-release deal which halts fighting in Gaza and, if fully implemented, could end the conflict. Eight-two percent of respondents said they support he ceasefire, which began being implemented on Sunday.
Hamas started the war on Oct. 7, 2023, when it led an invasion of southern Israel in which Palestinian terrorists from neighboring Gaza murdered 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 hostages. Israel responded with a military campaign aimed at freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
In October 2024, a Harvard-Harris poll showed similar results, with Americans indicating support for Israel over Hamas by a margin of 81-19 percent. This was a slight uptick from September, when 79 percent of Americans indicated support for Israel over the terrorist organization.
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