Left-leaning US voters are growing increasingly critical of US support for Israel. [Getty]
A poll by The New York Times/Siena found that 74% of voters aligned with the Democratic Party oppose US military and economic assistance to Israel, as support for the country dwindles amid wars in the Middle East.
This represents a substantial increase in opposition to Israel, compared with the 45% three years ago, before the start of the genocidal war on Gaza.
When asked which side they sympathised with more, Israel or Palestine, 60% expressed strong sympathy for the Palestinians, with 41% describing their sympathy as “strong” and the remainder as “somewhat” sympathetic. In contrast, only 15% expressed strong sympathy for Israel. Another 15% of respondents said they felt that way towards “both sides”.
Among those aged 18 to 44, the percentage of those who sympathised with the Palestinians stood at 74%.
Meanwhile, 49% of those over the age of 45 also sympathised with them—the highest percentage in years.
Additionally, nearly half of democratic voters said their party “was too supportive” of Israel.
Regarding Trump’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, approximately 90% of voters disapproved of his approach, while 5% approved, and 5% were undecided.
The US has traditionally been Israel’s biggest ally over the decades, providing billions of dollars in aid to the country, bolstering its military capabilities during wars and violence in the Palestinian territories and other countries in the region.
However, anger over Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, and the wars waged against Lebanon and Iran, has plummeted support for Israel across the US, particularly among progressives and Democratic-leaning voters.
The poll also found that Democratic voters have become less inclined towards foreign intervention, with 56% urging a focus on domestic issues, compared to only 37% in a similar poll in 2024.
When asked about Iran, an overwhelming 95% said they opposed the US-Israeli assault on the country.
Earlier this year, a poll conducted by Gallup demonstrated similar results, showing a significant increase in compassion towards Palestinians, compared to three years ago, before Israel’s war on Gaza started.
In October 2025, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans think the US should recognise Palestinian statehood, reflecting a stark contrast between public opinion and the Trump administration, which has refused to make such a decision.
Despite this shift among the public, the Democratic Party’s leaders, notably Senator Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, continue to espouse support for Israel.
Donald Trump’s Republican Party has also continued to be a staunch supporter of Israel, though some members of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) collective have turned their backs on Israel, drawing the ire of the president.
