Nearly Half of Americans Support Arresting Israeli PM Netanyahu for War Crimes

A recent Economist/YouGov poll reveals that 49% of Americans believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested on war crimes charges during his visit to the United States. The poll specifically referenced the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant related to alleged war crimes in Gaza. Meanwhile, 27% opposed arresting Netanyahu, and 23% were unsure. Similar proportions of respondents also consider Netanyahu guilty of war crimes connected to the Gaza conflict that began on October 7, 2023.

The debate over Netanyahu's potential arrest has intensified ahead of his planned visit to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly. Support for arresting Netanyahu varies significantly by political affiliation: 68% of Democrats favor arrest, compared to 24% of Republicans and 55% of independents. Additionally, 47% of Americans feel Netanyahu's actions have damaged U.S.-Israel bilateral relations, including 61% of Democrats and 30% of Republicans.

Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. this week has brought these issues to the forefront amid ongoing international scrutiny of his government's conduct in Gaza.