WASHINGTON — Half of U.S. adults say Israel’s 15-week-old military campaign in Gaza has “gone too far,” a finding driven mainly by growing disapproval among Republicans and political independents, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Broadly, the poll shows support for Israel and the Biden administration’s handling of the situation ebbing slightly further across the board. The poll shows 31% of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s handling of the conflict, including just 46% of Democrats. That’s as an earlier spike in support for Israel following the Hamas attacks Oct. 7 sags.
Melissa Morales, 36, a political independent in Runnemede, New Jersey, says she finds herself watching videos and news from Gaza daily. Images of Palestinian children wounded, orphaned or unhoused by the fighting in Gaza make her mind go to her own 3-year-old boy.
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“I just can’t even imagine, like, my son roaming the streets, wanting to be safe. Wanting his mom. Or just wanting someone to get him,” she said.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march against police Thursday during a visit by President Joe Biden in Warren, Mich.
Israel’s offensive has gone too far, Morales says, and so has the Biden administration’s support for it. Biden has supported Israel militarily and diplomatically since the first hours after the Hamas militant group’s Oct. 7 attacks, which Israel says killed 1,200 people.
The U.S. has become increasingly isolated in its support of Israel as the Palestinian death toll passes 27,000, with two-thirds of the victims women and children. The Biden administration says it is pressing Israel to reduce its killing of civilians and allow in more humanitarian aid.
“These kids … they’re needing the end of this,” Morales said. “It’s such an unfair fight.”
Rubble from buildings destroyed in the Israeli Army's ground operation in the Gaza Strip is seen Thursday from southern Israel near the Gaza border fence.
John Milor, a cybersecurity expert in Clovis, California, who describes himself as a Republican-voting independent, says he remains “100%” behind Israel.
But Milor notices more young people in his circle speaking out against Israel. A visit to a family friend led to Milor being aghast when the man’s stepson denounced Israelis as “warmongers.”
“And I’m like, “You’re kidding, right?’” Milor recounted.
“It’s not like they asked to be attacked, you know,” Milor said by phone this week. “And they still have hostages over there.”
The poll shows 33% of Republicans now say Israel’s military response has gone too far, up from 18% in November. Fifty-two percent of independents say that, up from 39%. Sixty-two percent of Democrats say they feel that way, roughly the same majority as in November.
Palestinians line up for food distribution Friday during the ongoing Israeli offensive in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.
In all, 50% of U.S. adults now believe Israel’s military offensive has gone beyond what it should have, the poll found. That’s up from 40% in an AP-NORC poll conducted in November.
The new poll was conducted from Jan. 25 to 28. That overlapped with the killing of three U.S. troops in Jordan, the first deaths among American service members in what’s been widening regional conflict since Oct. 7. U.S. officials blamed a drone strike by a Hamas-allied militia.
The new poll’s findings include more worrying news for President Joe Biden when it comes to support from his own political party.
Fracture lines are growing in his Democratic base, with some key Democratic blocs unhappy with his handling of the conflict.
About 6 in 10 non-white Democrats disapprove of how Biden is approaching the conflict, while about half of white Democrats approve.
Notably, about 7 in 10 Democrats under 45 disapprove. That’s the opposite of the attitude of older Democrats, among whom nearly 6 in 10 approve.
Pro-Palestinian protesters block an intersection Thursday near the Capitol in Washington.
Sarah Jackson, 31, a professional closet designer in Chicago, is a Democrat. She says Biden has been about right in his level of support for both Israel and the Palestinians.
But as Israel’s air and ground offensive goes on, Jackson’s thoughts turn to finding the best way to phase down U.S. support for it, she says.
“At first I was very supportive, because I did believe they need some type of help,” Jackson said.
“But yes, as it goes on, I do become more worried,” she said. That includes worrying a new leader will take office here, and phase down support for Israel too abruptly, she says.
About 7 in 10 of the Democrats who disapprove of Biden’s handling of the conflict say it’s extremely or very important for the U.S. to help negotiate a permanent ceasefire.
About 6 in 10 call recovering hostages being held by Hamas an important U.S. priority, but only about 3 in 10 say it’s highly important to provide aid to Israel’s military to fight Hamas.
A similar share of U.S. adults say that about negotiating the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
“If Hamas were in charge, absolutely not,” Milor said on the subject of an independent Palestinian nation. He said he worried that any Palestinian state would become a base for broader attacks.
But Morales, the woman from northwest New Jersey, said Palestinians should have a safe state, or at least a safe community.
“Everyone deserves a safe space where they can just be. Without interference because of who they are,” she said.
Today in history: Feb. 2
1887: Groundhog Day
In 1887, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, held its first Groundhog Day festival.
1913: Grand Central Terminal
In 1913, New York City’s rebuilt Grand Central Terminal officially opened to the public at one minute past midnight.
1925: Alaska Serum Run
In 1925, the legendary Alaska Serum Run ended as the last of a series of dog mushers brought a life-saving treatment to Nome, the scene of a diphtheria epidemic, six days after the drug left Nenana.
1943: Battle of Stalingrad
In 1943, the remainder of Nazi forces from the Battle of Stalingrad surrendered in a major victory for the Soviets in World War II.
1948: Harry Truman
In 1948, President Harry S. Truman sent a 10-point civil rights program to Congress, where the proposals ran into fierce opposition from Southern lawmakers.
1980: "Abscam"
In 1980, NBC News reported the FBI had conducted a sting operation targeting members of Congress using phony Arab businessmen in what became known as “Abscam,” a codename protested by Arab-Americans.
1990: South Africa
In 1990, in a dramatic concession to South Africa’s Black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela.
2006: John Boehner
In 2006, House Republicans elected John Boehner of Ohio as their new majority leader to replace the indicted Tom DeLay.
2012: Egypt
In 2012, Egyptian security forces clashed with stone-throwing protesters enraged by the failure of police to prevent a soccer riot the night before that killed 74 people.
2018: Larry Nassar
In 2018, at a sentencing hearing in Michigan for former sports doctor Larry Nassar, a distraught father of three girls who the doctor had sexually abused tried to attack Nassar before being tackled by sheriff’s deputies and hauled out of court. (Randall Margraves later apologized; the judge said there was “no way” she would fine him or send him to jail for trying to attack Nassar.)
2020: Coronavirus
One year ago: The Philippines reported that a 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan had died in a Manila hospital from the new coronavirus; it was the first death from the virus to be recorded outside of China. The United States recorded its ninth known case, a woman in the San Francisco area who’d recently traveled to Wuhan. Authorities in parts of China extended the Lunar New Year holiday break well into February to try to keep people at home.
2021: Pete Buttigieg
One year ago: The Senate approved Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary, making him the first openly gay person confirmed to a Cabinet post.
2022: Michael K. Williams
In 2022, four men were charged with being part of the drug distribution crew that supplied a deadly mix of narcotics to actor Michael K. Williams of “The Wire,” who had overdosed five months earlier.
2023: Chinese balloon
In 2023, a huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon sailing across the U.S. drew Pentagon accusations of spying while sending excited or alarmed Americans outside with binoculars.
