How Americans Feel About Israel, Palestine and U.S. Relations a Year From the October 7 Attacks

The October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel have completely dominated the global conversation for a year now, and nowhere outside the Middle East has been more impacted at the cultural and geopolitical level by its ongoing aftermath.

A new poll by YouGov has sought to capture the current mood in the country regarding some key issues related to the conflict, ranging from sympathies toward each group to what they believe should happen to U.S. military support to Israel.

Regarding the former topic, Israelis saw a spike of sympathy following the attacks conducted by Hamas, where some 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage.

The figure reached 48% in the immediate aftermath of October 7, but dropped over the year as the war progressed. It now stands at 33%, slightly higher than the 31% recorded in April of 2023, when the timeline of opinions began.

Support for Palestinians also increased after the attacks, climbing from 9% to 13% two weeks after. Figures kept climbing over the year as the toll of Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip increased, now reaching 19%, the highest it's been since April 2023. Almost a quarter of respondents (24%) say they feel about equal, down from 29% a year and a half ago.

Regarding economic aid, more Americans now support decreasing the amount of military support to Israel, with 38% giving that answer, compared to 23% at the beginning of the timeline. 18% now support increasing it further, compared to 23%, and a quarter say it should stay the same, a similar figure than a year and a half ago.

As for humanitarian aid to Palestinians, about a third (32%) support increasing it, 22% say it should decrease (compared to 21% in April 2023) and 22% say it should stay the same.

In the region, another recent survey shows that hopes for peace are still dim. Gallup surveys conducted in July and August show that "few people in Israel or the West Bank and East Jerusalem think peace will ever be reached in the long-running conflict between Israel and Palestine." Concretely, 66% of Israelis surveyed and 68% Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem think a permanent peace will never be achieved.