In major shift, new poll shows more Americans support Palestinians than Israel

A new Gallup poll found that Americans are now more sympathetic toward the Palestinians than toward Israel after more than two years of war. The survey, released Friday, showed that 41% of the public sympathizes more with the Palestinian side, compared to 36% who express greater support for Israel.

Last year, a Gallup poll indicated that Israel held a 13-point lead over its opponents. The latest Gallup survey comes roughly six months after a poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College found, for the first time, that the American public had reportedly shifted its sympathies in the Middle East conflict.

Prior to the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack, nearly half (47%) of U.S. citizens were more sympathetic towards Israel. However, widespread criticism of Israel’s conduct during the war in Gaza has reportedly contributed to a shift in public opinion. The new poll also found that Americans under 55 favor the Palestinian side by a significant margin, while those 55 and older remain more supportive of Israel. The survey further indicated that anti-Israel sentiment has risen particularly among college-educated Democratic voters.

Reports indicate that incidents perceived as anti-Israel or antisemitic on U.S. college campuses have increased since Oct. 7. Some students and faculty members have described Hamas’ actions as “resistance,” while critics of Israel have accused the country of committing “genocide” in Gaza – an allegation Israel strongly denies.

In November 2024, Prof. Hedy Wald at Brown University in Rhode Island, warned that antisemitism on campus had reached a level that was reminiscent of the pre-Holocaust period.

Compared to many European countries that have been critical of Israel in the past, Americans until recently were viewed as being generally sympathetic towards the Jewish state. However, changing demographics have undermined support for Israel in U.S. society, especially among young liberals and many left-leaning individuals.

In a Reuters poll published in November 2025, nearly six in 10 Americans (59%) said they support a two-state solution. A whopping 80% of Democrats showed support, compared to 41% of Republicans. This shift in public opinion contrasts with the Trump administration’s opposition to the unilateral recognition of a “Palestinian state.” The administration has argued that such a move would reward Hamas for the attack on Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,200 people and 251 hostages being abducted into Gaza.

However, Israel still enjoys support among significant sectors of the American society, including millions of Evangelical Christians and the majority of American Jews.

Following a conservative Turning Point USA conference in December, 85% of those surveyed responded that they view the Jewish state as an ally.