US support for Israel declines one year after October 7 attack
ABC News has explored American opinions regarding the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. While Americans initially showed strong support for Israel, the report notes that this backing has decreased as the conflict has prolonged and Israel’s retaliatory strikes have intensified.
The report highlights that many Americans are worried about the severity of Israel’s military response and are calling for more U.S. diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Early polls conducted immediately after the Hamas attack indicated that around half of Americans supported Israel. However, as the conflict continued, public opinion shifted, largely due to the intensity of Israel’s counterattacks on Gaza.
A recent poll revealed that 25% of Americans sided with Israel, 15% sympathized with the Palestinians, 31% expressed equal sympathy for both, and 26% took no sides.
The report points out that more Americans now believe Israel’s military response has been too harsh. In a late September poll, 32% of respondents thought Israel’s actions were overly severe, while 22% found them proportionate, and 17% believed they weren’t tough enough.
Despite changing views on the conflict, a majority of Americans still hold Hamas responsible for the situation. A poll by the National Atlas Institute found that 60% of Americans blame Hamas, while 14% blamed Israel.
Many Americans now believe multiple parties, including the Israeli government, Hamas, and Iran, are responsible for the ongoing violence.
The report also discusses the declining support for U.S. military aid to Israel. Polls show a drop in support for increasing military assistance, with only 18% backing it in September this year, down from previous figures.
At the same time, support for increasing humanitarian aid to Palestinians has grown, rising from 26% to 32% over the past year.
As the conflict continues, more Americans are calling for the U.S. to play a stronger diplomatic role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. The evolving public sentiment reflects a broader concern for both humanitarian and political solutions to bring lasting peace to the region.
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