Recent findings from a comprehensive survey by Big Data Poll illuminate a critical shift in public opinion regarding Israel’s position in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The survey, which interviewed 2,005 registered voters, indicates that U.S. voter sympathy for Israel has reached a historic low, with just 29.1% of respondents expressing support for the country. The data contrasts with a significant portion of the population that has shifted their stance, with 21.4% of registered voters now backing Palestinian causes. These findings underscore a growing disengagement with the conflict, as nearly 30% of the surveyed group expresses no sympathy for either side, signaling a collective fatigue with the ongoing hostilities.
Amid these shifting attitudes, BDP Director Rich Baris noted that the remaining strong supporters of Israel in the U.S. are Republican voters over the age of 50. This demographic continues to demonstrate considerable support for Israel, even as broader public sentiment has taken a different trajectory. Additionally, the survey highlights a dramatic shift in public opinion since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which initially spurred a surge in support for Israel. Following the attack, support for Israel spiked to 54%, but as the conflict has progressed and the death toll in Gaza has risen, this figure has steadily declined. Currently, the survey indicates that nearly 40% of U.S. voters believe that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide, reflecting a deepening divide over the conflict’s moral and ethical implications.
Local health officials in Gaza have reported that over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023. This stark figure has further fueled the controversy surrounding Israel’s military actions and sparked intense debate over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict. The BDP poll also reveals that nearly 30% of U.S. voters disagree with the notion that Israel’s actions constitute genocide, highlighting the polarization of opinions on the issue. Meanwhile, a recent ceasefire has taken effect, following an exchange of hostages and prisoners in which Hamas returned the last remaining living Israeli captives from the 2023 attack in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. This development marks a potential turning point in the conflict, but the survey suggests that public sentiment in the U.S. continues to favor greater scrutiny of Israel’s military actions.