In a dramatic shift of public opinion, a new Gallup poll has revealed that a majority of Americans now disapprove of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The survey, conducted from March 1 to March 20, showed a 10 percentage point increase in disapproval compared to just four months earlier.
The findings are particularly striking given the significant drop in approval ratings for Israel’s conduct in the war. In November, 50 percent of Americans approved of Israel’s actions, but that number plummeted to just 36 percent in March. The proportion of Americans with no opinion on the subject also rose slightly to 9 percent.
These results come amidst a five-month period in which Israel has been embroiled in conflict with Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 32,000 Palestinians, including nearly 14,000 children. Israeli officials claim that roughly 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attack on October 7.
The poll also revealed a decrease in approval of Israel’s military actions across the political spectrum. While a majority of Republicans still expressed approval, the figure dropped from 71 percent in November to 64 percent in March. Independents’ approval fell to 29 percent from 47 percent, and Democrats’ approval plummeted to just 18 percent from 36 percent.
Other polls, such as the AP-NORC survey conducted in late January, have also shown a growing discontent with Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Pew Research Center’s recent survey highlighted generational and religious divides in public opinion, with younger adults and Muslim Americans more likely to view Israel’s response as unacceptable compared to older adults and Jewish Americans.
These findings underscore a significant shift in American attitudes towards Israel’s military actions in Gaza, signaling a growing dissatisfaction with the ongoing conflict.
