American's Growing Criticism of Israel
Hongda Fan / PressTV
As the Gaza-Israel war progresses, American criticism of Israel has been gradually increasing, especially among younger Americans.
On September 2, U.S. President Biden publicly stated that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had not done enough to rescue hostages held by Hamas. On the same day, Netanyahu bluntly responded, "No one is more committed to freeing the hostages than me... no one will preach to me on this issue." This marks yet another significant disagreement between the U.S. and Israeli leaders following the outbreak of the Gaza-Israel war on October 7, 2023.
As the Gaza-Israel war progresses, American criticism of Israel has been gradually increasing, especially among younger Americans. A Pew Research Center survey conducted between February 13-15, 2024, targeting American adults, showed that 38% found Israel’s military actions against Hamas acceptable, while 34% found them unacceptable. Among the 18-29 age group, only 21% considered Israel’s actions acceptable, while 46% found them unacceptable; 14% expressed complete or primary sympathy for Israelis, while 33% sympathized with Palestinians.
Moreover, Washington’s bias toward Israel has encountered some resistance in U.S. mainstream media, including CNN. Nearly 1,500 American journalists issued a public statement condemning Israel for killing journalists in Gaza and urging Western media to report honestly on Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become powerful channels for sharing the realities of the Gaza war, bringing the brutal scenes in Gaza directly to the American public. This has further increased sympathy and support for Palestinians among Americans.