Support for Israel among Americans has declined significantly amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to a recent survey conducted in June 2024. The poll, which included over 3,000 U.S. adults and more than 1,000 Jewish respondents, highlights growing divisions along partisan and generational lines regarding views of Israel and its military actions following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The conflict began with a militant assault by Hamas that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages. Subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza have led to heavy casualties, with the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 73,000 deaths, though the breakdown between civilian and militant fatalities remains unclear. The escalation has sparked debate about the proportionality and justification of Israel’s response.
Among the broader American public, about one-third believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the conflict, a charge disputed by Israel and the U.S. government. Jewish respondents showed similar division, with 30% concurring with the genocide assertion and 49% rejecting it. About half of the overall U.S. population indicated insufficient knowledge to form an opinion on the matter.
Partisan perspectives vary notably. Democrats have grown increasingly critical of U.S. support for Israel. Approximately 58% of Democrats now say the United States is “too supportive” of Israel, a rise from 45% in early 2024. Concurrently, 62% believe the U.S. does not support Palestinians enough, up from 49% two years prior. Younger Democrats are more inclined to express these views, although older Democrats are increasingly aligning with this perspective.
Republican attitudes present a more complex picture. While around 60% of Republicans view current U.S. support for Israel as appropriate, younger Republicans are somewhat more skeptical, with about 20% saying the U.S. is “too supportive.” Fewer Republicans see the U.S. as insufficiently supportive of Israel now compared to prior polling. Only a small segment of Republicans, roughly 13%, characterize Israel’s actions as genocidal.
Views on Israeli leadership also contribute to nuanced opinions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives low favorability ratings overall, with about 38% of Americans viewing him unfavorably and only 20% positively. Among Jewish adults, the unfavorable view rises to approximately 60%. Younger adults, including younger Republicans, tend to have a more negative or uncertain opinion of Netanyahu. By contrast, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a prominent critic of Israel and a democratic socialist, holds a more favorable image among Jewish Americans, with 44% expressing a positive view.
Despite the intensity of opinions on the conflict, it remains a lower priority issue for many Americans as they focus on domestic concerns ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Economic issues dominate voter considerations, with some expressing that Middle East conflicts are a distraction from pressing national matters.
The poll underscores the shifting landscape of American public opinion on Israel, revealing deeper partisan divides and generational differences, while highlighting the complexity of attitudes toward U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East amid an ongoing and highly contentious conflict.