Recent findings from a CNN poll conducted by SSRS show a growing skepticism among Americans regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza. This sentiment has reached a point where many believe that the United States should reconsider its military aid to Israel. The poll indicates a significant shift in public opinion since the beginning of the conflict, revealing that only 23% of Americans view Israel’s actions as fully justified. This marks a stark 27-point decrease from October 2023, when public perception was largely more favorable following the attacks launched by Hamas on October 7. Presently, 27% of respondents describe Israel’s actions as partially justified, while 22% assert they are wholly unjustified, an increase from only 8% who felt that way in October.
The decline in support for Israel’s actions is evident across partisan lines but is particularly pronounced among Democrats and independents. The proportion of Democrats who believe Israel’s actions are fully justified has plummeted from 38% to a mere 7%. Similarly, among independents, support has dropped from 45% to just 14%. Meanwhile, Republicans have witnessed a decrease from 68% to 52%, illustrating a more tempered stance within the party but still maintaining a majority viewpoint.
Interestingly, attitudes towards U.S. military aid to Israel are evolving, with a notable shift occurring since March 2023. The percentage of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults who believe that the U.S. provides excessive military assistance to Israel has increased from 44% to 59%. Conversely, the sentiment among Republican voters regarding military aid has remained constant at approximately 24%. Among younger Democratic-aligned adults, those under 35 demonstrate a particularly strong opposition to military support for Israel. This demographic is notably critical, with 72% expressing concerns about the level of aid provided, and an alarming 43% advocating for a complete stop to military assistance.
Moreover, reports indicate that skepticism regarding Israeli military actions is significantly more pronounced among younger adults of all political affiliations. Only 10% of those under 35 believe that Israel’s military actions in Gaza are fully justified, while a significant one-third consider these actions wholly unjustified. This demographic is also inclined to assert that Israel is employing excessive military force, with 61% indicating that the U.S. is overly involved in assisting Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas.
Another demographic demonstrating similar skepticism is people of color, only 13% of whom feel that Israel’s actions in Gaza are justified, and 29% deem them unjustified. Furthermore, a significant 57% within this group argue that Israel has utilized too much military force. On a national level, opinions on Israel’s military force and U.S. assistance show a division: 50% of Americans believe that Israel is deploying excessive military force, while 39% feel the level of force is appropriate.
Significantly, there’s a shifting sentiment surrounding the U.S.’s role in global affairs, with a majority of Americans (56%) asserting that the U.S. should not assume a leading role in tackling international issues. This marks a departure from a more even split noted earlier in March, when a greater share of the public favored a proactive U.S. stance in foreign relations. This change is particularly reflective among Democrats, as support for a leading role has dropped from 58% in March to just 44% by the time of this poll.
Lastly, the ongoing foreign diplomacy, particularly pertaining to Trump’s handling of international issues, shows his approval ratings trailing significantly. With many Americans disapproving of Trump’s capability to lead on foreign affairs and regarding his role as commander-in-chief, public sentiment remains critical. Among the Republican base, views of Trump remain favorable, yet there is a growing concern over his legacy in terms of America’s standing in the global arena. Overall, this complex web of opinions illustrates a pivotal moment in the discourse around U.S. foreign policy and assistance to Israel, a topic that reverberates deeply across various demographics and political alignments.
