Recent polling reveals a significant decline in American support for Israel over the past year, particularly following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. This shift has highlighted stark differences in perspectives based on age and political affiliation.
A survey conducted by The Economist and YouGov from September 21-24, 2024, shows that sympathy for Israelis dropped from 48% shortly after the attack to just 33% by September 2024. Prior to October 7, support for Israel was only at 31% as of March 2023, reflecting a brief spike right after the incident.
In the tragic events of October 7, 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 251 were taken hostage, including a one-year-old child. Conversely, the Israeli military response has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, with many women and children among the casualties, and displaced 90% of Gaza’s population.
Initially, only 9% of Americans expressed sympathy for Palestinians on October 7, but this number has since risen to 19%. Those who feel “about equal” sympathy for both sides remained relatively stable, with 24% of respondents indicating this view.
Breaking down the data further, only 14% of Democrats show more sympathy for Israel compared to 63% of Republicans. Among younger individuals aged 18-29, only 19% sympathize with Israelis, while this figure increases to 49% for those over 65.
Responses regarding U.S. military aid to Israel reveal a growing demand for a decrease: 38% of respondents now advocate for reduced aid, up from 23% in November 2023. Support for increasing military aid has declined from 26% to just 18% over the same period.
Conversely, backing for increased humanitarian aid to Palestinians has grown from 26% to 32% since November 2023.
While the survey does not specify reasons for these shifts, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and related protests in the U.S. have contributed to a growing wave of discontent, particularly affecting political candidates who are being challenged by pro-Palestinian groups within the Democratic Party.