As Israel continues its fight against the terrorist group Hamas, Americans are becoming increasingly concerned for their safety at home. International protests and riots, as well as increased attention on terror attacks and border security, have three out of every four Americans worried about the threat of an attack on U.S. soil.
The Israel-Hamas war death toll is climbing while Israel continues its barrage of airstrikes and ground assaults on Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a ceasefire from the United Nations to provide aid to Gaza.
A NewsNation poll shows that more than 75% of respondents are “somewhat” or “very” concerned that the conflict will result in terror attacks in the U.S.
At the same time, American Muslims fear a wave of hate crimes and discrimination may come as a result of the war in the Middle East.
Authorities in Illinois say the attack on Israel motivated a man to murder a 6-year-old Muslim boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, stabbing him 26 times. The man that authorities said is responsible, Joseph Czuba, 71, a U.S. Air Force veteran, made his first court appearance on Monday, Oct. 30. Czuba pleaded not guilty.
Executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida chapter, Abdullah Jaber, is calling on elected officials to keep all Americans safe.
“I also mean including those who are Muslim, those who are Palestinian, and those who come from an Arab community,” Jaber said.
Other takeaways from the recent NewsNation poll:
When asked where sympathies lie more, with the Israelis or Palestinians:
- 49% of Americans said with Israel.
- 10% of Americans said with Palestine.
- 26% of Americans said equal between the two.
When asked, 82% of Americans said it’s “somewhat” or “very” important to protect Israel as it relates to U.S. foreign policy.
Congress is currently looking at aid to Israel but is divided on how to do it. The House wants to send $14 billion to Israel as a standalone bill, using funds earmarked for the IRS to do so. The Democrat-controlled Senate is working on a $106 billion security supplemental package that would include aid to Israel, Ukraine, and money for U.S. border security.
