21% of American voters back Hamas over Israel — poll
Support for terror group highest among Democrats; 82% of all respondents back the ceasefire-hostage release agreement
Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.

Twenty-one percent of US voters support the Hamas terrorist group over Israel, according to a Harvard/Harris poll conducted as the two sides agreed to a ceasefire.
One-quarter of US Democrats supported Hamas, according to the survey released over the weekend. For Republicans, 19% backed the terror group, and for independent voters the number was 20%, the survey said.
Support for the terrorists was highest among 25- to 34-year-olds, at 32%. Among 18- to 24-year-olds, 21% backed Hamas; in the 35-44 age group, 29%; in the 45-54 age group, 23%; in the 55-64 age group, 17%; and among those over 65, 10%.
Eighty-two percent of respondents backed the ceasefire deal. Democrats were most in favor of the agreement, at 87%, followed by Republicans, 81%, and independents, 78%. Older voters were more supportive, with 64% of 18- to 24-year-olds in favor, versus 88% of those 65 and above.
Among all voters, 57% believed Hamas agreed to the hostage deal because of the incoming Trump administration, and 43% credited the Biden administration.
Support for US President Joe Biden’s handling of the war declined since the conflict started, with 44% in favor in October 2023, down to 33% this month.
The poll asked Americans about their opinions on 19 domestic and foreign entities. The three least popular were Hamas, Russia and the Palestinian Authority. Israel was ranked in the middle.

The Israel-Hamas conflict was the top personal issue for 2% of voters, and 2% said antisemitism was the most important issue facing the US.
Respondents favored the incoming Trump administration, at 53% approval rating, over Biden, whose approval rating was 39%. Support for the Republican party was 52%, compared to 41% for Democrats.
Support for Hamas has remained relatively steady throughout the war. In October 2023, shortly after the Hamas invasion of Israel that started the war, 16% of voters sided more with Hamas than Israel.
The monthly poll was carried out by Harvard University’s Center for American Political Studies and The Harris Poll, a US survey company.
The survey was conducted on January 15-16 and questioned 2,650 registered voters. The margin of error was 1.9%.