Most Americans say US should suspend arms shipments to 'Israel': Poll

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
6 Mar 2024 00:02
1 Shares

The poll reveals that 52% of respondents favor the cessation of US weapons to "Israel" over a ceasefire in Gaza.

Visitors wearing rain gear stand near US flags at the base of the Washington Monument on a rainy morning, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A recent YouGov poll conducted by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) found that 52% of American citizens agree that the US government should cease weapons shipments to the Israeli occupation entity until it ends its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The poll reveals a significant partisan divide, with 62% of respondents who voted for President Biden in 2020 supporting the statement, "The US should stop weapons shipments to Israel until Israel discontinues its attacks on the people of Gaza." Only 14% of Biden voters disagree with the statement, while 24% remain undecided.

On the other hand, only 30% of former President Donald Trump's voters support suspending US weapons shipments to the Israeli occupation, with a majority (55%) opposing, and 15% expressing uncertainty.

The poll showed that among those who did not vote in the 2020 presidential elections, 60% believe the US should block weapons shipments to "Israel", while 17% disagree with the statement and 23% are unsure.

The survey also revealed that 52% of respondents favor the cessation of US weapons to the Israeli occupation over a ceasefire in Gaza, while 27% favored a ceasefire, and 21% were uncertain.

"Ceasefires can mean different things to different people, but the support for halting weapons shipments is specific and unambiguous," highlighted Mark Weisbrot, economist and Co-Director of CEPR.

A couple of weeks ago, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told the US government, "If you believe too many people are being killed, maybe you should provide less arms."

Earlier, the Health Ministry in Gaza confirmed that the total number of Palestinians killed since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7 has risen to 30,631, in addition to 72,043 injuries.

It is noteworthy that in early March, over 200 Members of Parliament from 12 nations pledged to lobby their governments for a prohibition on arms sales to "Israel", asserting that they refuse to be complicit in what they deem as "Israel’s grave violation of international law" during its current aggression on Gaza.

UN experts also warned in February that any act of transferring weapons or ammunition to "Israel" that are to be used in Gaza is likely in violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.