Most in US favor continued military support for Israel until hostages are released: Survey

Most Americans say they want the U.S. to continue supporting Israel in its war against Hamas until the remaining hostages in Gaza are released, according to survey results from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The public opinion survey, published Thursday, shows 60 percent of respondents favor the U.S. “supporting Israel militarily until the hostages are returned” — one of Israel’s primary goals in its miliary operation in Gaza.

Americans were less inclined, however, to favor backing Israel beyond the release of the more than 100 hostages still held in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country has another critical goal in its military campaign — eradicating Hamas, the U.S. designated terrorist organization governing the Gaza Strip.

“The war could end tomorrow if Hamas disarms, surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages," Netanyahu said in a joint address to Congress last month. "But if they don’t, Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’s military capabilities, end its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home."

Only about half (49 percent) of survey respondents said they favor the U.S. “supporting Israel militarily until Hamas is dismantled or destroyed.”

Two-thirds (67 percent) of Republicans held this view, while less than half of Democrats (41 percent) and independents (44 percent) agreed, the poll found.

Asked about the amount of military aid the U.S. provides to Israel, a combined plurality (43 percent) overall said the U.S. provides either the right amount (26 percent) or not enough (17 percent) military aid to Israel.

This result was boosted by Republicans’ strong support for continuing military aid to Israel. A combined majority (63 percent) of GOP respondents said the U.S. provides either the right amount (29 percent) or not enough (34 percent) military aid to Israel.

A plurality of Democrats (42 percent) and independents (39 percent) were both more inclined to say the U.S. gives Israel “too much” military aid. Among Democrats, 28 percent said it’s the right amount of aid, and 7 percent said it’s not enough. Among independents, 22 percent said it’s the right amount, and 14 percent said it’s not enough, the survey found.

The poll was conducted amid mounting concerns over escalating tensions in the region, a worry that now seems to be playing out, as Israel faces numerous threats from Iran and its proxy militant groups.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos June 21 to July 1, included 2,106 respondents. The margin of sampling error overall is 2.3 percentage points but greater for partisan subgroups.