American sympathy slowly shifting from Israel to Palestine: Poll

Mar 7

Kalé Carey Reporter

By Kalé Carey (Reporter), Joey Nunez (Video Editor)

A recent Gallup poll shows a shift in American sympathy, with support for Israel declining to 46%, down from 51% in 2024. Sympathy for Palestinians has risen to 33%, a six-point increase from the previous year.
Democrats are increasingly showing support for Palestinians, while Republicans remain firmly pro-Israel.
Celebrities, including rapper Macklemore and rock bands like Green Day, have supported the Palestinian cause.

Full Story

A recent Gallup survey tracking Americans’ views on the Middle East conflict for over two decades shows a noticeable shift in public opinion. More Americans are sympathizing with Palestinians as support for Israel declines.

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Declining support for Israel

According to Gallup’s World Affairs Survey, 46% of Americans now say they support Israel, down from 51% in 2024 and 54% in 2023. At its peak, support for Israel was 64% in both 2018 and 2013. While support for Israel still holds the majority, the trend is going downward.

The results come from a survey of more than 1,000 adults across all 50 states.

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Rising sympathy for Palestinians

Since Gallup began tracking this issue in 2001, sympathy for Palestinians has steadily increased. In 2025, support for Palestine has reached its highest level, with 33% of Americans expressing sympathy, up six points from the previous year.

Political divides over Middle East conflict

The survey highlights a partisan divide on the issue. Democratic support for Israel has been declining, with many Democrats now showing more sympathy for Palestinians than Israelis. This shift first appeared in 2022. In contrast, Republicans remain overwhelmingly supportive of Israel, with 75% backing the country and just 10% sympathizing with Palestine.

Independent voters show a more balanced view, with 42% supporting Israel and 34% backing Palestine.

Cultural impact: Entertainment industry weighs in

Entertainers have also taken up the Palestinian cause. In a recent song, rapper Macklemore criticized U.S. financial support for Israel, echoing sentiments expressed by other artists. Rock bands like Green Day and Rage Against the Machine have used their platforms to express solidarity with Palestinians, sometimes changing song lyrics or displaying the nation’s flag during performances.

The two-state solution stalls

Despite growing support for an independent Palestinian state, the two-state solution has routinely stalled and was dealt a significant blow following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Now, international leaders are focused on what comes next for Gaza, the future role of Hamas and how the West Bank will be governed.

The survey also indicates 40% of Americans approve of how President Donald Trump is handling efforts to end the conflict, with a ceasefire currently in place between Israel and Hamas. U.S. officials are working on further negotiations as the situation evolves.

Tags: Democrats, Gallup poll, Gaza, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Palestine, Republicans

[Kalé Carey]

GALLUP HAS SPENT MORE THAN TWO DECADES TRACKING THE WAY AMERICANS VIEW THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

THEIR LATEST DATA SHOWS SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT ARE SLOWLY SHIFTING FROM ISRAEL NOW TO PALESTINE.

THE WORLD AFFAIRS SURVEY REVEALS 46 PERCENT OF PEOPLE SAY THEY SUPPORT ISRAELIS–WHILE ITS STILL THE MAJORITY AMONG SURVEYORS THE NUMBER IS TRENDING DOWNWARDS.

JUST LAST YEAR, SUPPORT WAS AT 51 PERCENT, 54 PERCENT IN 2023, AND REACHED A PEAK OF 64 PERCENT IN 2018 AND 2013.

THE RESULTS COME FROM A SURVEY OF A LITTLE OVER 1,000 ADULTS LIVING ACROSS ALL 50 STATES. ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE OVER THE AGE OF 18.

SINCE 2001, GALLUP HAS TRACKED A GRADUAL RISE IN SYMPATHY FOR PALESTINE, WHICH HAS REACHED A NEW HIGH OF 33 PERCENT IN 2025, UP SIX POINTS FROM 2024.

THE SURVEY CAME AT THE TIME IN FEBRUARY AS ISRAEL AND HAMAS AGREEING TO A TEMPORARY CEASFIRE INCLUDING THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES.

POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THESE CHANGES: DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IS DECLINING, WHILE REPUBLICANS REMAIN STRONG IN THEIR SUPPORT. 75 PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS BACK ISRAEL, WHILE ONLY 10 PERCENT SYMPATHIZE WITH PALESTINIANS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE SHIFTED THEIR SUPPORT, SHOWING MORE SYMPATHY TOWARD PALESTINIANS THAN ISRAELIS–A TREND FIRST NOTED IN 2022.

INDEPENDENTS AREN’T FAR BEHIND THE AVERAGE. 42 PERCENT ARE WITH ISRAEL AND 34 SUPPORT PALESTINIANS.

ENTERTAINERS ARE ALSO TAKING CENTER STAGE, SHOWING THEY STAND WITH PALESTINE IN THEIR MUSIC. STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS REPORTED LAST MONTH RAPPER MACKELMORE CRITICIZED THE U-S FOR SENDING MONEY TO ISRAEL IN A NEW SONG.

WHILE ROCK BANDS GREEN DAY, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE AND OTHERS HAVE CARRIED PALESTINE’S FLAG DURING PERFORMANCES OR CHANGED LYRICS OF THEIR SONGS TO REFLECT SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIANS.

AT THE SAME TIME, GALLUP SAYS THE CONCEPT OF AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE REMAINS POPULAR AMONG AMERICANS, WITH DEMOCRATS EXPRESSING STRONGER SUPPORT THAN REPUBLICANS.

THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION, HOWEVER, HAS STALLED SINCE THE OCTOBER 7, 2023 ATTACK BY HAMAS. THE FOCUS NOW ON WHAT’S NEXT FOR HAMAS IN GAZA AND WHO WILL GOVERN THE WEST BANK.

THE POLL ALSO SHOWED 40 PERCENT OF AMERICANS AGREE WITH HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WORKING TO PUT AN END TO THE CONFLICT.

RIGHT NOW HAMAS AND ISRAEL ARE UPHOLDING A CEASEFIRE DEAL WHILE THE U-S WORKS ON NEGOTIATIONS.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KALÉ CAREY

FIND MORE NEWS AND THE LATEST UPDATES RIGHT NOW ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MOBILE APP.

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