Public support for Israel's military operations in Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ihas reached a new low among Americans, according to a Gallup poll published Tuesday.
For the first time since Gallup began tracking US opinions on the Israeli leader in 1997, a majority of Americans, 52%, now view Netanyahu unfavorably, the highest negative rating ever recorded. Just 29% of respondents said they have a favorable opinion of the prime minister, while 19% said they have no opinion.
Support for Israel's military campaign against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza has also fallen sharply. Only 32% of Americans now back the operation, compared to 60% who oppose it and 8% who are undecided.
The survey was conducted between July 7 and 21, as fighting continued in the Gaza Strip and Netanyahu visited Washington for meetings with President Donald Trump and other senior officials. He left without securing a ceasefire and hostage deal.
Sharp partisan divide
American views on both Israel and Netanyahu remain starkly divided along party lines. While 71% of Republicans support the military campaign in Gaza, just 8% of Democrats and 25% of independents express similar support. The partisan split extends to Netanyahu himself: 67% of Republicans view him favorably, compared to only 9% of Democrats and 19% of independents.
Support for Israel's military actions among Republicans has remained consistently high and even increased by 5 percentage points since the previous poll conducted last year. By contrast, support among Democrats and independents has dropped by 16 points in each group over the same period. These are the lowest levels of support recorded among both demographics since the war began in the wake of the October 7 attacks.
Potential political fallout
These trends could have significant implications for US-Israel relations. While the Trump administration continues to offer unwavering support for Israel, the growing disapproval among independents and Democrats may complicate bipartisan backing in Congress, particularly regarding military aid and diplomatic pressure to reach a ceasefire.
The poll also revealed notable demographic differences: men, white Americans, and those aged 55 and older were more likely to support both Netanyahu and Israel's military operation. In contrast, women, younger Americans, and minorities showed higher levels of opposition.
The findings suggest a deepening shift in American attitudes toward Israel and its leadership, possibly indicating not just a temporary reaction to the Gaza conflict but a broader transformation in the political and moral alignment of key segments of the US public. This shift poses new challenges to the traditionally close ties between the two countries.
