An increasing number of Americans are urging President Joe Biden to encourage Israel to cease military actions in Gaza, as his handling of the situation has reached its lowest levels yet. A recent poll conducted before Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel showed little support among the U.S. public for military action against Iran, with more Americans favoring the U.S. supporting Israel’s next actions. Pressure is mounting on President Biden from within his own party, as Democrats are expressing increased sympathy for the Palestinian people in addition to the Israelis, particularly among younger Americans.
While many Americans sympathize with both the Israeli and Palestinian people, the percentage of Democrats expressing significant sympathy for the Palestinian people has increased since last fall. The majority of Americans across all party lines express at least some sympathy for the Israeli people, with fewer Democrats and independents today supporting sending weapons and supplies to Israel compared to last October. There has been a rise in support for sending humanitarian aid to Palestinians, though most Republicans still oppose this.
Half of the country believes that the threat of terrorism will increase for both Israel and Americans as a result of the conflict. Additionally, most Americans do not believe that the U.S. government is doing all it can to bring American hostages home. The handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict is seen as reflecting on various aspects of the U.S., including its morals, principles, security, and strategic interests.
Despite the growing concerns surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, President Biden’s overall approval remains in the low 40s. However, there has been a decline in his approval among younger Americans, with a drop in their approval of how he is handling the conflict. The economy remains a more significant factor in determining overall approval for Biden, as views of his handling of the economy are more closely tied to his overall job approval than views of his handling of the conflict.
The recent CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,399 U.S. adult residents and was weighted according to gender, age, race, and education based on census data. The margin of error for the survey is ±2.6 points. The handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict has become a focal point for President Biden, with increasing pressure from within his party and among younger Americans to address the situation and encourage a cessation of military actions in Gaza.
