American Opinion Toward Israeli Operations in Gaza

Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.

Operation Guardian of the Walls

Several members of Congress suggested withholding possible sale of arms to Israel, after its bombings of Gaza resulted in the death of over 250 people, mostly civilians, during intense fighting that also saw 12 Israelis, mostly civilians, killed by Hamas rockets. In general, do you support linking American arms supplies to Israel to Israel’s actions toward Palestinians? (University of Maryland, June 22-July 21, 2021)

	Rep	Ind	Dem	Total
Yes	32.3%	21.2%	36.3%	33.1%
No	50.3%	46.4%	43.4%	46.6%
Don’t Know	17.4%	32.4%	20.3%	20.3%

Who is mostly to blame [for the recent eruption of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, including the Israeli bombings of Gaza and rockets fired at Israel]? (University of Maryland, June 22-July 21, 2021)

	Rep	Ind	Dem	Total
Israelis	3.7%	13.8%	34.8%	19.2%
Palestinians	59.1%	23.7%	8.1%	32.1%
Both equally	31.3%	53.1%	52.5%	43.1%
Neither	5.9%	9.4%	4.6%	5.6%

Considering the high level of civilian casualties and destruction, how would you evaluate President Biden’s effort to end the fighting: (University of Maryland, June 22-July 21, 2021)

	Rep	Ind	Dem	Total
I highly approve	2.7%	8.4%	14.7%	9.0%
I somewhat approve	17.2%	36.8%	57.6%	38.4%
I somewhat disapprove	32.2%	29.9%	23.7%	28.0%
I highly disapprove	47.9%	24.9%	4.0%	24.7%

Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of President Joe Biden's approach to the current 6ghting between Israelis and Palestinians, even if neither statement is exactly right? (Vox, May 19-21, 2021)

Biden is too supportive of Israel	15%
Biden has taken the right approach towards Israel	32%
Biden is not supportive enough of Israel	34%
Don't know	20%

Biden is too supportive of the Palestinians	27%
Biden has taken the right approach towards the Palestinians	33%
Biden is not supportive enough of the Palestinians	18%
Don't know	22%

Violence in the region recently escalated to the worst it's been in years, with the Palestinian militant group Hamas launching rockets at cities in Israel, and the Israeli military launching airstrikes in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas. As of Monday, 192 people had been killed in Gaza by Israeli military actions and 10 people had been killed in Israel by Hamas rockets. President Joe Biden has supported a ceasefire, condemned the actions of Hamas and has said he does not think Israel's response was disproportionate. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view as to how President Joe Biden should respond to the current 6ghting between Israelis and the Palestinians, even if neither statement is exactly right? (Vox, May 19-21, 2021)

The administration should condemn Israel’s actions	18%
The administration has the right approach to Israel	31%
The administration should be more supportive of Israel	35%
Don't know	16%

Violence in the region recently escalated to the worst it's been in years, with the Palestinian militant group Hamas launching rockets at cities in Israel, and the Israeli military launching airstrikes in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas. As of Monday, 192 people had been killed in Gaza by Israeli military actions and 10 people had been killed in Israel by Hamas rockets. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view as to how President Joe Biden should respond to the current 6ghting between Israelis and the Palestinians, even if neither statement is exactly right? (Vox, May 19-21, 2021)

The administration should condemn Israel’s actions	23%
The administration has the right approach to Israel	27%
The administration should be more supportive of Israel	30%
Don't know	21%

The administration should condemn Hamas further	44%
The administration has the right approach towards Hamas	31%
The administration should be more supportive of Hamas	8%
Don't know	17%

Violence in the region recently escalated to the worst it's been in years, with the Palestinian militant group Hamas launching rockets at cities in Israel, and the Israeli military launching airstrikes in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas. As of Monday, 192 people had been killed in Gaza by Israeli military actions and 10 people had been killed in Israel by Hamas rockets. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view as to how President Joe Biden should respond to the current 6ghting between Israelis and the Palestinians, even if neither statement is exactly right? (Vox, May 19-21, 2021)

The administration should condemn Hamas further	43%
The administration has the right approach towards Hamas	25%
The administration should be more supportive of Hamas	6%
Don't know	25%

Who is resonsible for the recent violence Hamas or Israel? [not exact wording] (Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll, May 19-20, 2021)

Hamas	60%
Israel	40%

Which side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are you more sympathetic toward? (Morning Consult/Politico, May 14-17, 2021)

Israelis	28%
Palestinians	11%
Both	29%
DK/No Opinion	32%

When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what are you most concerned about?
(The Brookings Institution, December 2014)

	Total
I am not concerned about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict	21%
I am mostly concerned about maintaining international law	8%
I am mostly concerned about protecting human rights	15%
I am mostly concerned about the Palestinian interests	1%
I am mostly concerned about the consequences for American interests	24%
I am mostly concerned about Israeli interests	14%
Refuse to answer	1%

OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

Do you think the current conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is more serious than past conflicts between them, less serious, or about the same?
(Gallup, July 22-23, 2014)

	Total
Operation Protective Edge is more serious	45%
Operation Protective Edge is less serious	3%
Operation Protective Edge is the same level of seriousness	43%
No opinion	10%

Has Israel gone too far in it's response to Hamas during this conflict?
(Pew Research, July 28, 2014)

	Total
Israel's response has been appropriate	35%
Israel's response has gone too far	25%
Israel has not gone far enough	15%

Who bears more responsibility for the current conflict?
(Pew Research, July 28, 2014)

	Total
Israel is more responsible for the current violence	19%
Hamas is more responsible for the current violence	40%
They are both equally responsible for the current violence	14%

Is your view of the following actions that they are justified or unjustified?
(Gallup, July 24, 2014)

	Justified	Unjustified	No opinion
Israel's actions against Hamas	42%	39%	20%
Hamas' actions against Israel	11%	70%	20%

Who is more to blame for the escalation of conflict in Gaza: Israel or the Palestinians?
(Rasmussen Reports, July 7-8, 2014)

	Total
Israel	15%
The Palestinians	42%
No Opinion	43%

Do you think Israel was justified or unjustified in taking military action against Hamas and the Palestinians in the area known as Gaza?
(CCN/ORC International, July 21, 2014)

	Total
Yes, justified	57%
No, unjustified	34%
No Opinion	9%

OPERATION PILLAR OF DEFENSE

Was Israel justified or unjustified in taking military action against Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza?
(CNN/ORC International, November 16-18, 2012)

	Men	Women	White	Non-White	Total
Justified	64%	51%	64%	40%	57%
Not Justified	21%	28%	20%	35%	25%
No Opinion	15%	22%	16%	24%	19%

OPERATION "CAST LEAD"

Who do you blame more for the conflict in the Gaza Strip?
(The Israel Project National Survey, January 10-12, 2009)

Strongly Israel	8%
Not-So-Strongly - Israel	9%
Not-So-Strongly - Palestinians	17%
Strongly - Palestinians	39%

Who do you blame more for the current humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip?
(The Israel Project National Survey, January 10-12, 2009)

Israel	17%
Hamas	66%
Don't Know	13%
No Opinion	4%

Who is most responsible for the outbreak of violence?*
(Pew Research Center, January 7-11, 2009)

Israel	12%
Hamas	41%
Both	5%
Other	7%
Don't Know	37%

Do you approve or disapprove of Israeli actions in Gaza?
(Pew Research Center, January 7-11, 2009)

Approve	40%
Disapprove	33%
Don't Know	27%

Israel has...* (Pew Research Center, January 7-11, 2009)

Gone too far	24%
Not gone far enough	7%
Responded about right	50%
DK	19%

*Not exact questions wording.

The U.S. should be ...* (Pew Research Center, January 7-11, 2009)

More involved	17%
Less involved	27%
As involved as it is	48%
DK	8%

*Not exact questions wording.

What should U.S. do?* (Pew Research Center, January 7-11, 2009)

Publicly support Israel	39%
Say or do nothing	38%
Publicly criticize Israel	9%
DK	14%

*Not exact questions wording.

Thinking about the current fighting in the Middle East, do you think Barack Obama should announce a firm public position on the conflict now, or wait until he takes office on January 20th to take a firm public position on the issue? (Gallup, January 6-7, 2009)

Should announce position now	19%
Should wait to announce position	75%
No opinion	6%

Thinking about the current fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza, do you think the Bush administration should be doing more, is doing the right amount, or should be doing less to help resolve the conflict? (Gallup, January 6-7, 2009)

Should be doing more	33%
Doing the right amount	30%
Should be doing less	22%
No opinion	16%

As you may know, violence has recently erupted in the Middle East in the Gaza Strip and Israel. Based on what you have seen, read or heard, do you think that the use of force by Israel/Hamas has been excessive or is appropriate given the circumstances? (McClatchy / Ipsos, January, 6, 2009)

	Hamas	Israel
Excessive	57%
Appropriate	18%	44%
(DK/NS)	25%	20%

Do you personally make a distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people, or not?(McClatchy / Ipsos, January, 6, 2009)

Make a distinction	37%
Do Not Make a distinction	53%
(DK/NS)	10%

And regardless of your personal feelings, who do you believe is more to blame for the current conflict?(McClatchy / Ipsos, January, 6, 2009)

Israel	14%
Hamas	44%
(DK/NS)	29%
Both	9%
Neither	4%

Now, do you think the United States should or should not favor creating a Palestinian state?(McClatchy / Ipsos, January, 6, 2009)

Should favor	31%
Should not favor	45%
(DK/NS)	24%

Who is more to blame for the current situation…..Israel or the Palestinians? (Rasmussen Reports, December 30, 2008)

Israel	13%
The Palestinians	55%
Not sure	32%

Should Israel have taken military action against the Palestinians or should it have tried to find a diplomatic solution? (Rasmussen Reports, December 30, 2008)

Taken military action	44%
Tried to find a diplomatic solution	41%
Not sure	15%

How likely is it that this latest violence in the Gaza Strip will escalate into a more widespread war between Israel and the Arabs in the Middle East? (Rasmussen Reports, December 30, 2008)

Very likely	30%
Somewhat likely	36%
Not very likely	19%
Not at all likely	3%
Not sure	11%

How likely is it that the latest military action by Israel will create more terrorism against the United States? (Rasmussen Reports, December 30, 2008)

Very likely	17%
Somewhat likely	34%
Not very likely	27%
Not at all likely	9%
Not sure	12%