Historic Reversal: Americans Now Sympathize More with Palestinians Than Israelis, Poll Finds

A landmark shift in American public opinion regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has emerged, with a recent Gallup poll indicating that, for the first time in over two decades, more U.S. adults now express greater sympathy for Palestinians than for Israelis. This represents a significant departure from historical trends, where support for Israel consistently held a substantial lead, and carries profound implications for American foreign policy and the ongoing dynamics of the Middle East.

A Historic Reversal in Public Opinion

The latest Gallup poll, conducted in February 2026, reveals that 41% of Americans sympathize more with the Palestinians, while 36% sympathize more with the Israelis. This marks a notable reversal from just three years prior, when 54% of Americans sympathized more with Israelis compared to 31% for Palestinians, demonstrating a dramatic narrowing and eventual overturning of sentiment. The polling has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, indicating that sympathies between the two groups are now roughly balanced. Benedict Vigers, a senior global news writer at Gallup, highlighted the striking nature of this shift, noting that the significant gap in public opinion has now closed.

Prior to this, Gallup's annual measurements from 2001 through 2025 consistently showed Israelis holding double-digit leads in American sympathies, with the average gap between 2001 and 2018 standing at 43 points. This long-standing advantage for Israel began to narrow around 2019, several years before the October 2023 events.

Beyond general sympathy, other polling data corroborates a hardening of attitudes towards Israel. A Pew Research poll in March 2025 found that 53% of Americans held an unfavorable view of Israel, an increase from 42% in March 2022. This marks a significant rise in negative sentiment, even among traditionally pro-Israel segments of the population.

The Driving Forces: Demographics and Political Divide

The reorientation of American sympathies is not uniform across all demographics but is largely propelled by specific groups. Democrats and political independents are at the forefront of this change. About two-thirds of Democrats now express more sympathy for Palestinians, a stark contrast to 2016, when approximately half of Democrats sympathized more with Israelis and only about one-quarter with Palestinians. Independent voters have also shifted significantly, with approximately 4 out of 10 now more sympathetic toward Palestinians, marking the first time this group has favored Palestinians over Israelis in Gallup's trend.

While a majority of Republicans, about 7 in 10, continue to side with Israel, this figure represents a slight downtick from before the October 2023 conflict. Even among Republicans, there are emerging generational divides, with those under 50 showing less support for Israel than their older counterparts.

A notable generational divide is also evident. Younger adults, aged 18 to 34, are increasingly sympathetic toward Palestinians, with about half of this age group expressing more sympathy for Palestinians, and only about a quarter for Israelis. This marks a record low for Israeli sympathy among this demographic. The shift extends to middle-aged Americans (35-54), where 46% now sympathize more with Palestinians compared to 28% with Israelis, a near reversal from the previous year. Although older Americans (55 and above) still lean towards Israel, their sympathy for Israelis (49%) is at its lowest point since 2005.

This evolving sentiment among Democrats and younger generations has been tracked by various polls for several years. Gallup's surveys show a steady tilt toward Palestinians among Democrats since around 2017, partially attributed to disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose favorability in the U.S. declined significantly between 2017 and 2024.

Catalysts for Change: Recent Events and Media

The acceleration of this shift in American public opinion is closely linked to recent events in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While the shift was already underway before the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, it intensified dramatically during Israel's subsequent military operations. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the scale of devastation have played a critical role in shaping public perception.

The influence of social media is also cited as a significant factor. Unfiltered images and eyewitness testimonies from Gaza, readily accessible through digital platforms, have challenged traditional narratives and exposed a broader public to the realities of the conflict. This direct access to information has been particularly impactful among younger generations, fostering a new perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian dynamic. Reports suggest that connections among activists, especially younger generations, have linked the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to broader human rights struggles, including women's rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, Black Lives Matter, and indigenous rights.

Shifting Policy Landscape and the Two-State Solution

The divergence between evolving public sentiment and traditional U.S. foreign policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict presents a growing challenge for Washington. Despite the shift in public opinion, the U.S. government has historically maintained robust military and diplomatic support for Israel. However, this widening gap suggests that long-term U.S. backing for Israel may face increasing pressure to align with public sentiment.

Americans continue to express strong support for a two-state solution. A majority of 57% favor the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, a figure that nearly matches the highest levels recorded in Gallup polls from 2003. This support is particularly high among Democrats (77%) and a majority of independents (57%). However, support for a two-state solution among Americans remains significantly higher than among Israelis (27%) and Palestinians (33%) themselves, according to a 2025 Gallup World Poll.

The disconnect between public opinion and congressional action is also notable, with some analyses suggesting that while American society is increasingly sympathetic to Palestinians, the political establishment in Washington has largely maintained its support for Israel.

Conclusion

The recent Gallup poll marks a historic inflection point in American public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, demonstrating a clear and unprecedented shift in sympathies towards Palestinians. Driven by younger generations, Democrats, and independents, this evolution in sentiment reflects a complex interplay of recent geopolitical events, humanitarian concerns, and the transformative power of modern media. While the immediate impact on U.S. foreign policy remains to be fully seen, this profound change in public consciousness is poised to reshape future debates and could eventually influence the nature of American engagement in one of the world's most enduring conflicts. This growing divergence between the public and traditional policy positions signals a critical juncture, suggesting that the United States may be entering a new era in its relationship with the Middle East.