Is Hamas a legitimate political party, or a terrorist organization? Much U.S. policy depends on the answer. American voters have a resounding response: By nearly eight to one, they say Hamas is a terrorist group, the latest I&I/TIPP Poll shows.
With the nation experiencing a surge in violent demonstrations supporting Hamas and coming after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stirring July 24 speech before the U.S. Congress, the question regarding Hamas has taken on new urgency.
For this month’s national online I&I/TIPP Poll, we asked the following question of 1,358 voters: “On Oct. 7, Hamas intentionally killed and raped civilians and took hostages. Should it be considered . . .”, followed by three possible choices: 1.) a political party, 2.) a terrorist organization, and 3.) not sure.
The poll was taken from June 26-28, and so didn’t capture voters’ reactions to the latest wave of pro-Hamas demonstrations and violence.
After her 40-minute meeting last week with Netanyahu, Harris was described as “visibly angry”, saying “as I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu it is time to get this deal done. Let’s get the deal done. So we can get a ceasefire to end the war.”
Netanyahu, not surprisingly, “was upset by . . . Harris’ on-camera statement after their meeting and is concerned it will harm the negotiations over a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official said in a briefing with reporters,” according to Axios.
“Her words make it clear she believes the onus here is on Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu to bring the war to an end,” wrote John Podhoretz in the New York Post. “And she explicitly made it clear she is on the side of those who do not want Israel to secure victory: ‘So to everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire, and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you.’”
Others add that Harris also seems OK with leaving Hamas in power in Gaza, which means Israel would have to live under a virtual permanent terrorist high-alert.
“It is clear what the implications of Harris’s position are,” noted the Washington Examiner. “She says this can end “in a way where Israel is secure” while demanding that Israel allow the genocidal terrorist organization that massacred 1,200 Israeli and American civilians to remain in power.”
Obey
Article URL : https://issuesinsights.com/2024/07/31/nearly-80-of-american-voters-call-hamas-a-terrorist-organization-ii-tipp-poll/