Americans Grow More Divided on US Support for Israel

Republicans support US backing for Israel until its military objectives in Gaza are achieved, while majorities of Democrats now oppose it.

The two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed in March after the two parties disagreed on the terms of the truce’s second phase. In addition to imposing a total humanitarian blockade on Gaza to catastrophic effect, Israel launched a massive aerial assault that killed more than 400 Palestinians and injured at least 500 more. Since then, the Israeli government approved a broader military offensive that would seize most, if not all, of Gazan territory and displace much of its population. 

With a few exceptions, most political leaders on Capitol Hill have remained steadfast in their support for the US-Israel relationship throughout the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. But the American public has become much more divided in its views. Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos surveys, fielded April 18–20 and May 2–4, 2025, find a widening gap between Democrats and Republicans on the US approach to the conflict. 

Key Findings

• Americans give Israel a lukewarm rating of 50 on a 0-100 scale where 100 represents the most favorable rating. This is the lowest rating Israel has ever received in Council polling dating back to 1978.
• More Americans now say Israel is playing a negative role in resolving the key challenges facing the Middle East (61%) than a year ago (54%).
• Americans are closely divided between those who say current Israeli actions are justified (27%) and those who say they are not (29%). But a plurality of Americans is not informed enough to opine (42%).
• Slightly fewer now (55%) than in 2024 (60%) say the United States should support Israel militarily until the remaining hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 are returned.
• Nearly half support continuing US military aid to Israel until Hamas is dismantled or destroyed (47%, similar to 49% in 2024). 

Support for Israel among Democrats Has Plunged 

The events of the past 19 months following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks have affected American attitudes toward Israel, particularly Democratic Party supporters. In a Chicago Council-Ipsos poll fielded April 18–20, 2025, Americans give Israel a lukewarm rating of 50 on a 0-100 scale with 0 being the coldest, most unfavorable rating and 100 being the warmest, most favorable rating. This is down from an overall average rating of 58 in 2002 and is the lowest-ever rating for Israel in Council polling dating back to 1978. 

Warmth toward Israel has declined among all partisans but most significantly among Democrats: they give Israel an average rating of 41 degrees out of a possible 100, down from 52 in 2022. This marks the first time Democratic ratings of Israel have fallen below the 50-point midline in nearly five decades of Council polling.

The same April 2025 poll also finds that the majority of Americans believe Israel is playing a negative role in resolving the key challenges facing the Middle East (61%, up from 54% in 2024), while just a third believes it is a positive influence (34%, down from 39%). There are also stark partisan differences in this assessment. Six in 10 Republicans see Israel’s regional role as a positive one (60%) compared to just three in 10 Independents (29%) and just two in 10 Democrats (19%). 

US Public Divided on Whether Resumption of Israeli Military Action Is Justified 

When asked about their views on the situation in Gaza right now, a plurality of Americans say they do not know enough about it to provide an opinion (42%). The remaining portion of the US public divides fairly equally between those who say Israel is defending its interests and the military action is justified (27%) and those who think Israel has gone too far and its military action is not justified (29%). 

Looking at partisan affiliation, Democrats (46%) and Independents (33%) who provide an opinion tend to say Israel is not justified in continuing its military operation. In contrast, a majority of Republicans say Israel is justified (55%). 

Asked a similar question last year before the ceasefire was reached, Americans were similarly divided. Democrats said Israel had gone too far, and Republicans maintained that it was justified. The biggest shift has been in the increased percentage of Americans who say they do not know enough to give an answer.

Republicans Most Supportive of Continuing US Military Assistance to Israel 

Since taking office, the Trump administration has approved about $12 million in military assistance to Israel, reversing the Biden administration’s pause on weapons transfers due to concerns over their use in violation of international humanitarian law. 

Overall, a slightly smaller majority of Americans now (55%) than in 2024 (60%) say the United States should support Israel militarily until all the hostages are returned. Nearly half support continuing US military aid to Israel until Hamas is dismantled or destroyed (47%, similar to 49% in 2024).

In line with their views that Israel is justified in its military actions, three in four Republicans (76%) favor continuing aid until the hostages are returned, as do a narrower majority of Independents (55%). Just four in 10 Democrats agree (43%), and more now oppose supporting Israel until the hostages are returned than last year (50%, up from 40%). 

Only among Republicans is there majority support for continuing US military assistance until Hamas is destroyed or dismantled (72%, up from 67% a year ago). Independents are closely divided (47% support, 49% oppose), and Democrats oppose this policy (32% support, 59% oppose). 

Democrats Now Oppose a Key US Role in Gaza Reconstruction 

Support for officially recognizing a Palestinian state (47%) and the United States taking a leading role in the reconstruction of Gaza (35%) is broadly consistent with 2024 readings. Republicans are the least inclined to favor an independent Palestinian state, with even fewer now in favor (25%) than in 2024 (33%). A solid majority of Democrats still express support for a two-state solution (65%), as do half of Independents (49%).  

While only a minority, Republicans are now 10 percentage points more likely to support the United States playing a leading role in the reconstruction of Gaza (34%, up from 24%), perhaps in support of President Trump’s ideas about developing the enclave. For their part, Democrats are significantly less supportive of the United States playing a leading role in reconstruction efforts now than a year ago (39%, down from 51% when Joe Biden was president). Like last year, Independents are opposed to playing a role in postwar reconstruction (59%, 36% support). 

Majority Thinks United States Should Take Neither Side in Conflict

Reflecting Chicago Council surveys going back to 2002, a majority of Americans say the United States should not take Israel’s nor the Palestinians’ side in the decades-old conflict (58%). Three in 10 (28%) favor taking Israel’s side, and 12 percent favor siding with the Palestinians. While low, it is the highest percentage supporting Palestinians yet recorded in Chicago Council polling.

As in nearly every other question on this topic, Republicans and Democrats are at different ends of the spectrum. Six in 10 Republicans (58%) say the United States should side with Israel, similar to results a year ago. Democrats are now more likely to favor not taking any side (68%, up from 62% last year), and are significantly less likely to want the United States to favor Israel (10%, down from 19%). The end result is that for the first time, Democrats are now more likely to favor siding with Palestinians over Israel (20%, the highest point yet recorded) (see appendix table 1).

Conclusion

American public opinion of Israel has grown increasingly partisan over the course of the Israel-Gaza war. Democrats have long been critical of Israel’s military action in Gaza, but the Trump administration’s disregard for humanitarian concerns and calls for a US takeover of the enclave have further eroded Democrats’ backing. In fact, for the first time, more Democrats say the United States should side with the Palestinians than Israel in the conflict. While a long-term shift in public opinion could lead to reduced US support for Israel down the line, it has yet to fully impact US policy toward its top Mideast ally.