Voters Support the U.S. Calling for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza and Conditioning Military Aid to Israel
A new survey from Data for Progress asked likely U.S. voters about various foreign policy issues, particularly related to the ongoing war in Gaza.
When asked if they approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling the Israel-Palestine conflict, voters disapprove by a -21-point margin, with 57% disapproving and 36% approving. This margin has increased since Data for Progress started polling this question in early November, with approval highest in late November after the last temporary ceasefire began.
However, disapproval of President Biden’s handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict is driven primarily by Republicans, with 79% expressing disapproval. While a majority of Democrats (61%) approve of Biden’s handling of the conflict by a +31-point margin, this margin is only about half the margin of Democrats’ approval for Biden’s overall job performance (+60).
Around two-thirds of voters (67%) — including majorities of Democrats (77%), Independents (69%), and Republicans (56%) — support the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza. This represents a 6-point increase in support for the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire since Data for Progress last polled this question in November, with a 12-point increase among Independents.
Voters were then asked the same question, but with the specification that the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza would include “the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza.” After the addition of that language, voter support for the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire increases to 74%, a 7-point increase.
Next, voters were presented with arguments for and against the U.S. calling for a ceasefire, particularly as it relates to whether a ceasefire should occur only once Hamas has been defeated.
After being presented with these arguments, voters still support the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire by a +15-point margin, with half of voters (50%), including a majority of Democrats (63%) and Independents (53%), agreeing that “the U.S. should call for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza right now.” Thirty-five percent of voters, including a majority of Republicans (52%), say “the U.S. should not call for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza until Hamas is defeated.” Fifteen percent say they don’t know.
A majority of voters say the U.S. government should prioritize providing additional military aid to Ukraine (59%) and providing additional military aid to Israel (54%). However, more Democrats and Independents say that aid to Ukraine should be a higher priority than aid to Israel.
Requiring Israel to agree to certain conditions related to human rights and the resolution of the war in Gaza to receive military aid from the U.S. is broadly popular. Voters support placing the following conditions on aid to Israel:
Guaranteeing the right of displaced Palestinians to be able to return to their homes in Gaza following the conclusion of the war (+59)
Committing to peace talks with the Palestinians for a two-state solution (+52)
Committing to a de-escalation of violence in Gaza and stopping any indiscriminate bombing to protect Palestinian civilians (+46)
Pledging to stop building settlements in the Palestinian territories, which violates international law (+47)
Pledging to not occupy Gaza following the conclusion of the war (+38)
When asked about Biden’s recent executive order that will impose financial sanctions and visa bans on Israeli settlers who have engaged in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, 61% of voters, including a majority of Democrats (80%) and Independents (61%), say they support the executive order.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again reiterated his opposition to recognizing an independent Palestinian state. Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan recently stated that the United States sees a two-state solution as a long-term path to peace in the region.
When voters are asked whether they support or oppose Israel fully controlling all Palestinian territories following the conclusion of this conflict, they are opposed by a -19-point margin — with 51% in opposition, including a majority of Democrats (59%) and Independents (59%), and 32% in support. Conversely, by a +50-point margin, voters support a proposed “two-state solution” to the Israel-Palestine conflict, by which both Israel and Palestine would be globally recognized as independent, sovereign nations that are subject to and protected by international law. This includes 75% of Democrats, 66% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans.
As Congress continues to debate providing additional military aid to Ukraine and Israel, Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, has brought attention to the issue of members of Congress profiting from U.S.-backed military operations, especially from defense industry stock trading.
When voters are asked about Tlaib’s new bill, the Stop Politicians Profiting From War Act — which would ban members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents from trading stocks or having any financial interests in companies that have contracts with the Department of Defense — more than 80% of voters across party lines say they support the legislation. This finding is similar to previous Data for Progress polling that found broad support for banning members of Congress from buying or selling individual stocks to eliminate conflicts of interest.
This survey emphasizes that while a majority of voters support providing additional military aid to Ukraine and Israel, they also broadly support placing conditions on that aid to Israel that protect Palestinian civilians and banning members of Congress from defense industry stock trading. Furthermore, support for the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza has increased over the last three months, and voters prefer a “two-state solution” over Israel controlling all Palestinian territories following the war.
Survey Methodology
From February 22 to 26, 2024, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,232 U.S. likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography, and voting history. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error is ±3 percentage points.