Support for Israel is eroding as voters grow war-weary and more likely to blame U.S. and Israeli policies for terrorism
Key Takeaways
- War fatigue rising: By more than 2-1, voters now prioritize ending the war ASAP over supporting Israel until Hamas is defeated.
- Age divide narrowing: Gen Z remains the most critical of Israel’s actions, but older voters views have shifted the most, closing the gap.
- Blame shifting: A growing minority now say terrorism stems from U.S. and Israeli policies rather than terrorist ideology.
More than six in ten voters now say the United States should make it a priority to end the war between Israel and Hamas as soon as possible – up 17 points since the war began two years ago.
Additionally, 28% now say that terrorism against Israel and the United States is caused more by the policies of the U.S. and Israeli governments than by terrorist ideology—a 10-point increase since 2023.
WHY IT MATTERS
In the near term, Washington must navigate shifting public sentiment as it considers future aid to Israel and participation in peace negotiations.
Long term, the war may have reshaped how voters – especially Democrats – view terrorism and foreign policy. These shifts could spart new intra-party battles over how American responds to future attacks.
HOW TO USE THIS DATA
- Empathize with growing voter fatigue with prolonged conflicts when discussing foreign aid or U.S. involvement abroad.
- The energy behind ‘blame America first’ is growing, but still a significant minority. This makes it a potential wedge issue to divide the Democrats and paint them as extreme.
Sustained Interest
- Two-thirds still follow news of the Israel-Hamas war—down from three in four in October 2023, but steady since early 2004.
- The sharpest declines in attention are among older voters, Hispanics, and Whites.
Goal of the United States
- At the war’s start, Americans were evenly split between ending the war quickly and supporting Israel until Hamas was eliminated.
- Since then, support for ending the war has risen 17 points, while support for backing Israel has fallen 19 points—a 36-point swing.
- The largest shifts come from men (44 points), older voters (45 points) and Republicans (43 points).
‘Genocide’ View Growing
- Since February 2024, the share of Americans who say Israel is committing genocide has risen 5 points, while disagreement has dropped 10—a 15-point shift.
- This shift is led by Gen Z, Asians, and Democrats. Among other groups, uncertainty (“don’t know”) has increased.
Root Causes
- Most still say terrorism stems from terrorist ideology, but that margin has narrowed by 26-points in two years.
- Gen Z stands alone as the only group where a plurality blame U.S. and Israeli policies.
- Democrats are evenly divided (39-39)—a sign of future intra-party rifts about how to future attacks.
- The biggest movement comes from Democrats and older voters.
The Bottom Line
Two years after Hamas’s attack, American opinion has shifted from unity to division. Support for Israel’s military campaign has faded, the “genocide” narrative is gaining ground, and the traditional bipartisan consensus on Israel’s defense is eroding.