Poll shows most Americans oppose US military aid to 'Israel'

A growing number of Americans are voicing opposition to Washington’s continued military support for 'Israel', according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

The survey found that 60 percent of Americans disapprove of sending weapons to 'Israel', while just 32 percent support additional assistance. This marks the strongest opposition and weakest backing for 'Israeli' aid since Quinnipiac first asked the question in November 2023, shortly after October 7, 2023.

The political breakdown underscores the widening divide. Among Democrats, 75 percent said they oppose military aid to 'Israel', compared to 66 percent of Independents. Republicans, however, remain more favorable, with 56 percent supporting continued arms sales and 36 percent against. Other recent surveys suggest younger Republicans are starting to distance themselves from 'Israel' as well.

Support for Palestinians is also at historic levels. Asked where their sympathies lie, 37 percent of respondents chose Palestinians, 36 percent sided with 'Israelis', and 27 percent expressed no preference. Quinnipiac noted this was the highest level of pro-Palestinian sentiment recorded since the university began tracking the issue in 2001.

The poll further revealed that half of American voters believe 'Israel' is committing genocide in Gaza. Just over a third (35 percent) disagreed, while 77 percent of Democrats specifically described 'Israel’s' actions as genocide. Only 20 percent of Republicans shared that view, compared with 51 percent of Independents.

“Support for the Palestinians grows while the appetite for funding Israel militarily dips sharply. And a harsh assessment of the way Israel is prosecuting the Gaza campaign invokes a word of infamy,” said Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy.

The results come at a time of mounting political tension in Washington. Many Democratic lawmakers find themselves at odds with their own base. In July, most Senate Democrats, joined by two Independents, voted to block a USD 675 million arms deal that included bombs, guidance kits, and 20,000 assault rifles for 'Israel'. Though the measure ultimately failed due to unanimous Republican opposition, the number of Democratic votes marked an unprecedented break with party tradition.

Internal divisions surfaced again this week when the Democratic National Committee debated resolutions on how the party should address 'Israel’s' war. A proposal from a 26-year-old DNC member calling for an arms embargo and a full halt to military aid was voted down, leaving the party without a clear position as grassroots pressure continues to build.