A recent Gallup poll reveals that only 32% of Americans approve of Israel’s military action in Gaza, marking a 10-point drop from September 2024. This decline in support is largely driven by Democrats and independents, with 60% of respondents overall disapproving of Israel’s actions. The partisan divide is stark, with 71% of Republicans approving of Israel’s conduct compared to just 8% of Democrats.
Shibley Telhami, a professor at the University of Maryland, notes that this trend reflects a growing discontent with Israel that extends beyond the Gaza war. “What we’re seeing here is an entrenchment of a generational paradigm among particularly young Americans – mostly Democrats and independents, but even some young Republicans – who now perceive the horror in Gaza in a way of describing the character of Israel itself,” Telhami said. Only 9% of respondents under 35 approve of Israel’s military action, and a mere 6% have a favorable opinion of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US Congress, however, remains staunchly pro-Israel, with a recent legislative push to block $500m in missile defense support for Israel failing in the House of Representatives. Telhami attributes the schism between public opinion and policy to voter priorities, explaining that foreign policy is not a driving factor in elections, and domestic issues like abortion and the economy dominate the electoral agenda. Additionally, the influence of pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) plays a significant role in shaping policy.
Despite this, Telhami believes that public opinion is shifting, with Palestine rising in importance and Americans questioning their country’s role in enabling the “horror in Gaza.” “It’s not just Gaza. It’s that we are enabling the horror in Gaza as a country – in terms of our aid or support or, even in some cases, direct collaboration,” Telhami said. “That it is actually creating a paradigmatic shift about who we are, not just about: ‘Do we support Israel? Do we support the Palestinians?'” The victory of Palestinian rights advocate Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary underscores this movement.