Americans overwhelmingly back Israel over Hamas in new poll showing college protesters are in the minority

A new poll shows the vast majority of Americans support Israel in its war against Hamas over the militant group despite the pro-Palestinian protests erupting across the United States. 

The Harvard CAPS-Harris survey found 80 percent of registered voters support Israel more in the war while only 20 percent say they support Hamas more.

The results break down more among age groups with older voters more likely to be supportive of Israel than younger Americans.

The poll findings are similar to what they were last month when 79 percent said they support Israel more. 

Among younger Americans, 64 percent of those ages 25 to 34 said they support Israel more while  57 percent of those ages 18 to 24 said they support Israel more while the rest support Hamas more.

Protesters rally at Columbia University on April 29. Poll finds vast majority of registered voters support Israel over Hamas in the conflict but it split largely by age

It comes as pro-Palestinian protests are taking place on college campuses across the country with students setting up encampments including at schools such as Columbia and New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Virginia Tech, University of Georgia.

In many of the cases, students have demanded that the universities  divest from Israel-linked companies protesters claim are profiting off the war in Gaza. 

Depending on the location, protesters have been met with police arrests and sometimes suspensions. 

School administrators have called in police forces to remove encampments and protestors at schools such as Harvard, Columbia, Emory , NYU, USC, the University of Texas , Cal-Berkley and Brown

The exact wording on the polling matters greatly to the response. While the vast majority of registered voters support Israel over Hamas, when asked about a permanent ceasefire, not Hamas, 70 percent said they favor a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

But when asked if they favor or oppose a ceasefire if that meant Hamas could continue to hold hostages and continue to run Gaza, 68 percent opposed it which was also split along age groups.  

The polling also found, the majority believes a ceasefire should happen only after the release of all Israeli hostages taken in Hamas' October 7 attack.

61 percent said it should be a condition of the ceasefire while 39 percent favor an unconditional ceasefire. 

Young voters were more likely to favor an unconditional ceasefire, however, with 67 percent of 18 to 24 year olds supporting on that would leave everyone in place.

But 76 percent of those ages 55 to 64 support a ceasefire only if Hamas is removed from power and hostages are released. That rises to 80 percent among those 65 and up.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed Hamas to accept an 'extraordinarily generous' ceasefire proposal during a visit to Saudi Arabia where he was attending a meeting of the World Economic Forum.

Blinken said the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept an 'extraordinarily generous' ceasefire proposal that would bring the return of hostages seized by Hamas fighters during the Oct. 7 attack inside Israel

A view of destruction after an Israeli strike on a building in Rafah, Gaza on April 29 

253 hostages were seized in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.  Roughly 130 hostages are believed to be still held in Gaza.

Israel responded to the attack by mounting a massive operation in Gaza. About 34,5000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza health authorities. 

The poll found 67 percent believe Israel is trying to avoid civilian casualties in fighting its war against Hamas, just up from 66 percent who said the same in March. 33 percent believe Israel is not trying to avoid casualties. 

The U.S. announced a damning assessment on Monday that five Israeli Defense Forces units engaged in 'gross violations of human rights' which could trigger aid being suspended.

The State Department announced on Monday that five Israeli units were found to have committed 'gross violations of human rights'. Four of the units were found to 'have effectively remediated these violations'

Meanwhile, as the war continues, an overwhelming majority of registered voters agree Hamas should be removed from Gaza but there is disagreement over who should take authority.

78 percent said Hamas should be removed from running Gaza with a majority among every age group except 18 to 24 year olds of which 53 percent said Hamas should be allowed to continue to run Gaza. 

But if Hamas were removed, registered voters are divided over who should have the authority there with 35 percent saying Israel, 30 percent saying the Palestinian Authority and 35 percent saying some new authority set up with Arab nations. 

Younger registered voters are more likely to favor the Palestinian Authority while older voters signaled support for a new authority set up with Arab nations. 

Overall, the vast majority - 71 percent - believe the crisis in Gaza was created mostly by Hamas.