A new Pew Research survey reveals a sharp divide in personal safety between Israelis and Palestinians during the ongoing Iran war. Most Israelis report having access to a bomb shelter, while few Palestinians say the same. Israelis are also far more likely than Palestinians to believe the conflict will ultimately make them safer.
These findings emerge as views on the broader war diverge sharply across national lines. Three-quarters of Israelis say the U.S. made the right decision in attacking Iran, while eight-in-ten Palestinians hold the opposite view. American public opinion remains more divided on the matter.
Perceptions of civilian protection efforts also vary widely. Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans disagree on whether the U.S., Israel, and Iran are doing enough to avoid civilian casualties. The survey captures a fundamental mismatch in how each population assesses the conduct of the warring parties.
The data underscores how lived experience shapes war attitudes—access to shelter correlates strongly with feelings of security. It also highlights the challenge of building consensus on humanitarian norms when the parties to a conflict view each other's actions through radically different lenses.
No expert reaction was included in the source material. The survey was conducted and published by Pew Research Center.