Poll: Americans Now More Sympathetic to Palestinians than Israelis

Washington – Saeed Arikat

A recent opinion poll conducted by the University of Maryland on critical issues, the UMD CIP, showed that Americans are more sympathetic to Palestinians than to Israelis, marking a historic shift in American public opinion amid ongoing U.S. government support for the genocide being perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.

The poll revealed that 28% of participants sympathize more with Palestinians, while 22% said they sympathize more with Israelis, and 26% expressed equal sympathy for both sides. Additionally, 12% stated they do not sympathize with either, and 13% said they do not know.

Sympathy for Palestinians is increasing among Americans aged 18 to 34, with 37% of them indicating they sympathize more with Palestinians, while only 11% said they sympathize more with Israelis.

The results are divided by political party, with Republicans showing greater sympathy for Israelis (46%) compared to Palestinians (7%). Sympathy for Palestinians is stronger among younger Republicans, with 12% stating they are more sympathetic to Palestinians, while 24% chose Israelis.

The UMD CIP center reported that the results align with trends from other polling organizations, but its poll was the first to find greater American sympathy for Palestinians compared to Israelis. The survey was conducted between July 29 and August 7, 2025, at a time when more American media began covering the famine imposed by Israel on Gaza.

The poll found that 40% of Americans believe President Trump's policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue is "very pro-Israel," while only 3% said it is "very pro-Palestinian," and 27% described it as "somewhat appropriate."

The UMD CIP center also found that 41% of Americans, including 67% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans, believe that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide (22%) or resemble genocide (19%). Only 22% of participants stated that Israel's actions are justified under "the right to self-defense."

The majority of participants acknowledged the U.S. government's responsibility for Israeli military operations, with 61% agreeing that U.S. military, economic, and diplomatic support for Israel enables it to continue its actions in Gaza (34% strongly agree, and 27% somewhat agree).