Americans' support for Israel has declined, polls show

(NewsNation) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called President Donald Trump the "greatest friend" Israel has ever had, but the praise comes as American support for Israel has plummeted since the war in Gaza began.

More than two years after the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, Americans’ skepticism of Israel’s operation and its government has shifted dramatically in the United States.

Support for Palestinians climbs 15%

According to a New York Times/Siena College poll, support for Israel among American voters has declined from 47% two months following the attack to 34%.

Sympathy for Palestinians has risen from 20% to 35%, marking the first time in two and a half decades that a New York Times poll found more support for Palestine than Israel.

The shift coincides with growing disapproval of Israel’s handling of the war. The poll found that 40% of Americans believe Israel "intentionally" killed civilians in Gaza, which Israel has denied. That figure is nearly double the number of voters who expressed the same sentiment in 2023.

Those concerns have been underscored in protests across the U.S., particularly on college campuses.

Sinking support for Israel among Americans

According to a Pew Research Center survey, 39% of Americans believe Israel has gone too far in its military operation — up from 31% a year ago and 27% in late 2023. Fifty-nine percent now hold an unfavorable view of the Israeli government, up eight points from early 2024.

While 16% believe Israel's approach has been "about right," 10% say it hasn't gone far enough.

Views of the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict are divided. The poll found 42% of U.S. adults disapprove of the administration’s response, 30% approve, and 27% remain unsure.

For many of Israel’s supporters, it’s a troubling moment — one that suggests that even if the fighting ends, Israel’s standing among Americans may be difficult to rebuild.