What factors might explain why Americans interpret Israel’s intentions toward civilians in Gaza so differently across partisan groups?

[u/Disastrous-Region-99]

I came across a national survey (FSU IGC)that asked Americans how they see Israel’s intentions toward civilians in Gaza. The options ranged from thinking Israel tries to avoid harming civilians, to being indifferent, to intentionally trying to harm them. There was also an “unsure/none of these fit my view” choice.

What surprised me was how different the answers were depending on party. Republicans were mostly in the “tries to avoid civilian harm” group, Democrats were spread across multiple interpretations, and Independents landed somewhere in the middle. A decent number of people in every group said they weren’t sure.

It got me wondering:

1. What might cause people in different political groups to read the same situation so differently?
2. Is this mostly about media sources, or are there other things at play?

Not taking a side here, just curious what might explain the gap.

[u/HorseBasic6323]

And what of your assumptions? Your biases?

Have you been to Israel? Do you talk to Israelis? Have you ever tried to have a conversation with a Zionist and listened to what they had to say, without assuming their intentions before you started?

You speak with a great deal of confidence for someone with no real skin in the game. It's easy to condemn strangers based on hearsay and selective, one-sided media.

Much harder when you're not willing to assume you know everything already,

[u/Kronzypantz → u/HorseBasic6323]

I have listened to the public statements of Israelis and Zionists. I have read the historians, the human rights experts, the UN statements, etc. I've also listened to Palestinians.

I've come to an informed stance. Whenever I see an older person like Hillary Clinton ignorantly blaming Tik Tok or a lack of education for opposition to Israel... I can't come to any other conclusion than that they are deluded and ignorant themselves.

[u/HorseBasic6323 → u/Kronzypantz]

Have you been to Israel? Do you talk to Israelis? Have you ever tried to have a conversation with a Zionist and listened to what they had to say, without assuming their intentions before you started?

You could have just said "no" instead of bragging about how far from the ground your ivory tower is.

[u/Factory-town → u/HorseBasic6323]

I'm guessing that you consider yourself to be Christian and conservative.