Poll: Most Americans Back Israeli Operation in Rafah

A Monday poll found that nearly three-quarters of Americans support Israel’s planned military operation to enter the city of Rafah in southern Gaza and eliminate the remaining Hamas terrorists there.

Seventy-two percent of Americans think Israel should “move forward with an operation in Rafah to finish the war with Hamas, doing its best to avoid civilian casualties even though there will be casualties,” while 28 percent believe the Jewish state should “back off now and allow Hamas to continue running Gaza,” according to the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll.

The poll results showed the Rafah operation is supported by a majority of American adults across all age groups, including 84 percent of those aged 65 or older and at least 70 percent of those between 35 and 64. Even among Americans aged 18 to 24, the group least willing to back the operation, 57 percent said Israel should move forward with it.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced the Israel Defense Forces will enter Rafah regardless of whether Hamas agrees to Israel’s latest proposed hostage deal, defying President Joe Biden’s warning in March that such an operation would cross a “red line.”

“The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” Netanyahu said. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there—with or without a deal—in order to achieve the total victory.”