A strong majority of American voters support Israel in the ongoing war in the Middle East, a new Harvard University poll released Tuesday showed.
The school’s Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) surveyed 2,111 registered voters from all parties last week, asking them their thoughts on a variety of hard-hitting current events, including the Israel-Hamas war. An overwhelming 79% of voters throw their support behind Israel in the war, with another 66% saying they believe Israel is trying to minimize casualties as the conflict continues.
CAPS, which conducted the survey online along with The Harris Poll and HarrisX as part of its monthly polling, asked voters their thoughts on many subtopics pertaining to the war, which broke out after the terrorist group, Hamas, brutally attacked the Israeli people on Oct. 7, 2023, taking 253 hostages back to the Gaza Strip.
The ongoing conflict has led to conflicting opinions among Americans of all ages, backgrounds and political affiliations on how the war should end. But voters did not hold back when pollsters asked their thoughts on supporting a ceasefire in the region. Many say a ceasefire is hostage dependent.
Specifically, the poll asked, “Do you favor an unconditional ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that would leave everyone in place, or do you think any ceasefire should happen only after the release of all hostages and Hamas removed from power?”
Despite many recorded incidents of antisemitism around New York City and across the country, more than half of American voters agree a ceasefire in the region should only happen upon the release of all the hostages and Hamas is removed from power.
To date, approximately 112 of the 253 hostages have been released from Hamas’ grip. Several bodies of hostages who were killed were also returned to Israel.
Republicans vs. Democrats: Their thoughts on supporting the war
Many of the poll results show strong Republican support for Israel in the war. For example, 72% of GOP voters say a ceasefire should only happen once the hostages are released and Hamas is removed, whereas only 56% of Democrats feel the same way.
But the parties seem to be in agreement on one thing: That Hamas needs to go. What happens to Gaza after the war is another story. Voters are evenly split on whether Gaza should be administered by Israel, the Palestinian Authority for something totally new set up through negotiations with Arab nations.
Until then, ending the war remains a priority for many. Of those polled, only 31% of voters say the war should end by removing Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and holding new elections, whereas an overwhelming 69% say it should end by Hamas being forced to release all the hostages.
Despite strong opinions about the war, only three in five voters admit to following the issue closely, the survey found. And 9% say they are not following it at all.
In other foreign policy topics, voters are split on passing an aid package for Ukraine, though most support a similar deal for Israel, according to the survey.
