Trending Now - Democratic Support for Israel Declines Significantly
WHO:
President Trump
NBC News
Jonathan Hunt, Fox News chief correspondent
John Fetterman, U.S. Senator
Anti-Israel activists
Health officials in the Palestinian territory
WHAT:
A national poll conducted by NBC News indicates that only 32% of Americans view Israel positively, while 39% view it negatively.
In 2023, 34% of Democrats viewed Israel positively, which has now dropped to 13%.
The percentage of independents with a positive view of Israel has decreased from 40% to 21%.
Republican views of Israel have declined slightly from 63% positive to 54%.
Americans are now split on sympathy between Israel and the Palestinians, with 40% more sympathetic to Israel and 39% more sympathetic to Palestinians.
A significant shift among Democrats shows a change from a 34%-18% margin in favor of Israel in 2013 to a 67%-17% margin favoring Palestinians now.
The war in Gaza has resulted in over 72,000 deaths according to health officials in the Palestinian territory.
Approximately 1,200 people were killed during the October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, with 251 captured.
WHERE:
United States
Freedom Plaza, Washington, D.C.
Gaza Strip
WHEN:
The poll was conducted from February 27th to March 2nd, 2026.
The October 2023 attack by Hamas occurred on October 7th, 2023.
The protests outside the United Nations headquarters took place on April 7th, 2025.
The military campaign in Gaza has been ongoing for two and a half years as of March 2026.
WHY:
The decline in support for Israel among Democrats and independents is attributed to a surge in negative views and ongoing political debates within the Democratic Party regarding support for Israel.
HOW:
The NBC News poll reflects changing public opinion through survey methodology, capturing shifts in sentiment over time.
(UPDATED March 16, 2026 19:22 UTC)
A recent NBC News poll reveals that only 32% of Americans view Israel positively, a significant drop from 34% of Democrats in 2023 to just 13% today. The poll, conducted from February 27th to March 2nd, shows that Americans are nearly split in their sympathy, with 40% leaning towards Israel and 39% towards Palestinians, reflecting a dramatic shift among Democrats over the past decade. Meanwhile, the ongoing military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 72,000 deaths, highlighting the complex and evolving sentiments surrounding this conflict.