Sharp Partisan Divide Emerges on Israel’s Military Operations in Gaza
Just 32% of Americans now support Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza, hitting a new low according to recent polling. The latest Gallup poll, conducted July 7-21, 2025, marks a watershed moment in the U.S. attitude toward one of its staunchest Middle East allies. Approval has dropped ten points since September of last year and a full eighteen points since the war began in October 2023. That disapproval is now outpacing approval by an overwhelming 60% to 32%. According to Gallup, this is the lowest recorded level since they began tracking American views of Israel’s Gaza campaign.
The nation is seeing not only a broad decline in support across most demographics but also a crystalizing of attitudes along party lines. Among Republicans, enthusiasm remains robust and unwavering. Their approval actually climbed five percentage points, soaring to 71% since September 2024—an almost mirror image to the dismal showing among Democrats and independents, whose approval numbers now hover in the single digits and low twenties, respectively.
Polling has reflected how support ebbed and flowed at the outset, but the most recent numbers demonstrate that divisions have only grown starker since then. Across much of the American public, concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is driving newfound skepticism, even as Republicans hold steady behind Israel and its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud). The scope and persistence of this split is unprecedented: what was once near-universal bipartisan backing of Israel has, for the first time, shown substantial partisan fracture.
“Approval for Israel’s action in Gaza sits at just 32%, the lowest Gallup has ever measured, while disapproval has soared to 60%. Republican support, by contrast, is not only stable but stronger than last fall, standing now at 71%.”
On college campuses, in workplaces, and in state legislatures, arguments rage over the appropriate response to the conflict—and for many Americans, events in the region carry special resonance both historically and morally. For now, Republicans remain the bedrock of the pro-Israel bloc, cementing the image of the GOP as unwavering in its commitment to a key democratic ally while others retreat into uncertainty and internal debate.
Discontent Grows Amid International and Domestic Pressure
Humanitarian concerns and allegations leveled at Israeli leadership have increased scrutiny in recent months. One contributing factor to the drop in approval is heightened visibility of the humanitarian costs, which has reverberated throughout the U.S. media and stoked fierce debate in Congress. The divide within Washington is becoming more pronounced as prominent figures such as Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) openly oppose continued military support. Senator Sanders has introduced a resolution to block arms shipments to Israel unless certain humanitarian benchmarks are met, while King voiced direct resistance to additional support packages.
At the heart of these debates is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud), who now faces both mounting international criticism and a dramatic reversal of fortune among American voters. More than half of Americans (52%) view Netanyahu unfavorably, marking the most negative sentiment Gallup has recorded since the question was first polled in 1997. The drop comes as Netanyahu is also wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including accusations of forced starvation and indiscriminate violence, according to The Times of Israel.
The generational split is no less pronounced. Young adults, in particular, exhibit a sharper level of discontent with Israel’s methods—mirrored by progressive voices that now shape much of the Democratic Party’s Middle East policy. This dissatisfaction has influenced international relations and is beginning to reshape longstanding Washington traditions. Support for Israel used to be one of the few constants on Capitol Hill, but it now risks being caught up in fierce ideological crosscurrents. Republicans have leveraged this to reinforce the Trump administration’s America First foreign policy legacy, drawing a bright line between themselves and an opposition fragmented by internal arguments.
“The drop in support is driven by 16-point declines among both Democrats and independents, suggesting that Israel’s strategy is losing favor outside the Republican Party even as GOP loyalty to Israel deepens.”
The public’s mood is similarly bleak regarding Israeli operations beyond Gaza. For example, Gallup found that only 38% of Americans approve of Israeli airstrikes on suspected nuclear sites in Iran—indicating that even aggressive anti-Iranian action is insufficient to generate the level of bipartisan sympathy Israel has long enjoyed. In both the media and government, concerns about civilian casualties and images of devastation from Gaza have transformed the narrative, causing some to ask whether Washington will continue footing the bill for the conflict as the political calculus changes with every news cycle.
Historical Alliances Tested: America First and the Shifting Political Landscape
The changing mood in the U.S. challenges decades of pro-Israel consensus and forces policymakers to reconsider the future of bilateral ties. The extraordinary drop in support comes in the aftermath of President Trump’s (Republican) reelection, a tenure marked by strong commitments to Israeli security, such as the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the historic Abraham Accords. For years, U.S. foreign aid and diplomatic cover have been near-automatic, supported by deep cultural, political, and religious ties that cut across party lines. What stands out in 2025 is just how quickly that foundation is being questioned by younger Americans, progressives, and a vocal left-wing media.
American presidents have traditionally worked hard to preserve the “special relationship” with Israel, offering both rhetorical and material support during times of conflict. The new poll numbers demonstrate, for the first time, that bipartisan support is waning outside of Republican voters. Disapproval among younger cohorts—many of whom shape campus activism and eventually policy platforms—is reaching historic highs. The willingness of prominent Democrats and independents to openly criticize Israeli policies and challenge arms deliveries is something almost unthinkable a decade ago.
“While 71% of Republicans approve of Israel’s military actions, approval sits at just 8% among Democrats and around 25% among independents, highlighting a dangerous erosion of traditional bipartisan unity.”
For the America First movement—reinvigorated and broadly popular under President Trump’s leadership—these poll numbers reinforce the wisdom of a measured, sovereignty-focused approach to foreign engagement. There’s a growing recognition that uncritical support for any nation, even longtime allies, must serve American interests first and foremost. The landscape today demands that lawmakers reassess not only the morality and strategic value of aid but also whether America’s interests are truly being served in an age of increasing multipolarity and uncertainty.
Republican leaders are moving to reassure Israel that the U.S.-Israel bond remains strong—so long as it aligns with core American values and interests. That spirit was reflected in President Trump’s historic Abraham Accords, an effort that generated real peace dividends, increased security cooperation, and economic benefits for both nations. The fact that so many young people are now unconvinced of the status quo simply proves that the conversation must evolve to reflect today’s realities. For conservatives, the answer is not abandonment but a recommitment to smart, values-based partnerships abroad.