In the midst of escalating international concern regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a recent poll reveals a growing sentiment among U.S. adults that Israel's military actions in the Palestinian territory have been excessive. Approximately 50% of Americans now believe Israel's military response has "gone too far," marking an increase from 40% in November 2023, post the initial assault by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which around 1,200 individuals were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

Despite the rising perception of Israel's military actions as excessive, the overall priority for the U.S. government to negotiate a ceasefire appears to have diminished, especially among Republicans. While the U.S. was previously engaged in ceasefire talks with Hamas, fewer Americans now feel that facilitating a ceasefire should be a primary objective for the U.S. government.

This shift in American perspectives emerges as Israel embarks on an expanded ground offensive in Gaza City, facing heightened global scrutiny over its military conduct. An independent team conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council recently stated that Israel is committing acts of genocide, which has intensified calls for assessing the humanitarian toll of the conflict. The devastation in Gaza includes vast destruction, displacing approximately 90% of the local population and leading to a dire humanitarian crisis, with reports indicating a famine in Gaza City. The death toll among Palestinians has exceeded 65,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The AP-NORC poll highlights a bipartisan increase in the belief that Israel's military response has surpassed acceptable limits. About 70% of Democrats now view Israel's actions as too aggressive, a significant rise from 58% in November 2023. Half of independents share this view, an increase from around 40% earlier. Republicans also exhibited a slight shift in opinion, with those believing Israel's actions have gone too far rising from 18% to 24%.

Interestingly, while there is a growing consensus that Israel has overstepped, only 45% of Americans regard it as "extremely" or "very" important for the U.S. to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, up from 41% in March. Republicans have become increasingly cautious about prioritizing negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. Currently, about half of U.S. adults find it important to push for a ceasefire, a drop from 59% earlier in the year. This decline is attributed primarily to a decrease in urgency among Republicans, while Democrats remain consistent in their views.

Amidst these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue military operations until Hamas is completely eradicated and all hostages are liberated. Meanwhile, Hamas argues that its initial assault was a backlash against an enduring blockade of Gaza and escalated violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Public sentiment toward U.S. military aid for Israel is also shifting, with only 20% of U.S. adults considering it "extremely" or "very" important for the U.S. to support Israel's military efforts. This figure represents a sharp decline from the 36% approval witnessed at the onset of the conflict, with Democrats showing a particularly notable decrease from 30% to 15%. This declining support reflects a broader concern among Americans about government spending priorities, especially when set against potential cuts to domestic social programs.

On the diplomatic front, Democrats are increasingly prioritizing negotiations for an independent Palestinian state. While 30% of U.S. adults deem it crucial to negotiate statehood for Palestinians, this sentiment is especially strong among Democrats, with approximately half considering it highly important, up from 41% in 2024. In contrast, only 19% of independents and 14% of Republicans share this view.

The U.N. General Assembly has recently voted overwhelmingly to endorse a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and has urged Israel to commit to establishing a Palestinian state, a stance that meets with opposition from Netanyahu and the U.S., which was one of the very few nations that voted against the resolution.