By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies*

One year after Hamas launched its devastating attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated into a full-scale war with widespread consequences. While the fighting has ravaged the region, and Israel continues its military campaign against Gaza, the views of the American public toward this ongoing conflict have remained remarkably stable. Recent polling data from The Pearson Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that American attitudes toward Israel, the Palestinians, and U.S. foreign aid in the region have shown little change despite the intensity of the war and international protests.

American Perception of Israel’s Military Response

In the early days of the war, Israel’s military response to the Hamas attacks was met with global attention and scrutiny. According to a survey conducted last November, just one month into the conflict, 40% of Americans felt that Israel’s response had “gone too far.” Over the past year, as Israel’s military operations have intensified and the civilian toll in Gaza has risen, that number has barely changed. In a follow-up poll conducted this September, 42% of respondents expressed the same view.

Despite international concerns and calls for Israel to ensure better protection for civilians, most Americans continue to support Israel’s actions. A majority of respondents believe that Israel’s response has been either “about right” or has “not gone far enough.” This consistency in public opinion reflects a deep-seated belief in the U.S.-Israel relationship, even as the war expands to include attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and rising tensions with Iran.

U.S. Aid to Israel: A Steady Consensus

The question of U.S. financial and military support to Israel has also been a focal point of debate. In November 2023, 43% of Americans believed that the U.S. was providing “too much” aid to Israel. However, by September 2024, this number had slightly dropped to 41%, indicating only a marginal shift in public sentiment.

This reflects the continuation of a bipartisan consensus in Washington, supported by the Biden administration, to back Israel both militarily and diplomatically. Even as criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war emerges, particularly over civilian casualties, most Americans appear to support the U.S. role in assisting its ally.

Sympathies for Palestinians and Humanitarian Relief

While support for Israel has remained strong, there is also stability in the American public’s views on U.S. aid to the Palestinians. In November 2023, 29% of respondents said the U.S. was providing “too much” humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in Gaza. By September, that number had fallen to 24%. At the same time, feelings of sympathy toward the Palestinian people have slightly risen, from 9% in November 2023 to 15% in September 2024.

These shifts, though modest, suggest that Americans are increasingly sympathetic toward the humanitarian plight of Palestinians while remaining critical of Hamas’s actions. However, the overwhelming majority of the public maintains a complex and nuanced view of the situation.

A Complex Conflict

The relative stability in public opinion about the Israel-Hamas war contrasts sharply with the clear-cut perspectives Americans hold on other international conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. In the Israel-Palestine conflict, there is no straightforward “aggressor” or “defender” in the eyes of many Americans. The conflict is inherently more complicated, with historical grievances, religious dimensions, and geopolitical factors that muddy the waters of public perception.

While Americans may express sympathy for Israeli civilians facing Hamas attacks, they are also troubled by the scale of destruction in Gaza and the toll on Palestinian lives. The U.S. government, led by President Joe Biden, faces a similar balancing act: supporting Israel as a critical ally while navigating complex questions of international law and human rights.

War Fatigue

The survey also points to a broader trend: war fatigue. Despite America’s involvement in various international conflicts, there appears to be a growing sense of exhaustion among the public. As the world faces the most numerous conflicts since the end of World War II, including wars in Ukraine and now the Middle East, Americans may feel overwhelmed by the unrelenting pace of global turmoil.

While public opinion on the Israel-Hamas war has shown little change over the past year, the longer-term impacts of this conflict—on both the region and U.S. foreign policy—remain to be seen. For now, Americans seem to be locked in a steady, albeit divided, view of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.

Sources: The Pearson Institute, AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research