WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans’ approval of Israel’s military action in Gaza has fallen 10 percentage points since the prior measurement in September, and it is now at 32%, the lowest reading since Gallup first asked the question in November 2023. Disapproval of the military action has now reached 60%.
These findings are from a July 7-21, 2025, Gallup poll, as Israel’s campaign against Hamas stretched into its 21st month. Americans supported Israel’s actions in Gaza in its initial reading in 2023, taken several weeks after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Since then, disapproval has outpaced approval in each survey, peaking at 55% in March 2024 before dipping to 48% in two readings later in the year.
Americans Sharply Divided by Party Over Israel’s Actions
The decline in approval is driven by 16-point drops among both Democrats and independents. As has been the case since the start of the conflict, independents (25%) express higher approval than Democrats (8%), but both groups currently register their lowest readings to date. In contrast, 71% of Republicans say they approve of Israel’s action in Gaza, up from 66% in September.
Approval of Israel’s Military Action in Iran Slightly Higher Than in Gaza
The July survey also asked about support for Israel’s military action targeting suspected nuclear enrichment and military sites in Iran. Currently, 38% of Americans express approval of this military action; 54% disapprove. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans, 31% of independents and 12% of Democrats approve.
While estimates differ on how much the attack set back Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, concerns that the action, which included a military assist from the U.S., could spark a wider war have not materialized.
Netanyahu Rated Unfavorably by Majority of Americans for First Time
Fifty-two percent of Americans now view Benjamin Netanyahu unfavorably, his highest unfavorable rating since 1997. His favorable rating stands at 29%, while 19% of U.S. adults have no opinion of him.
Until December 2023, Americans viewed Netanyahu more positively than negatively, except in 1997, when he was less well known. In the December 2023 poll, Netanyahu’s unfavorable rating far outpaced his 33% favorable rating, with the current poll showing a continued deterioration in his image.
Netanyahu’s unfavorable rating has roughly doubled since 2019, the last reading before the start of the current conflict. The increase in unfavorability has been accompanied by roughly equal decreases in his favorable rating (down 11 points) and the percentage with no opinion of the Israeli leader (down 14 points).
During the poll’s field period, Netanyahu visited the U.S. to meet with President Donald Trump and other political leaders. Although the Trump administration continued its efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Netanyahu left Washington without such a deal.
Republicans continue to have a broadly positive opinion of the conservative Israeli prime minister. Two-thirds of Republicans, 67%, now have a favorable opinion of Netanyahu, compared with 19% of independents and 9% of Democrats. While Republicans have held a consistently more favorable opinion of Netanyahu than Democrats and independents throughout the trend, the current 58-point party gap is the largest.
Republicans’ opinions of Netanyahu are similar to their views in 2019, which was Gallup’s last reading prior to the Oct. 7 attacks, while Democrats’ and independents’ ratings of him are sharply worse.
Demographic Differences in Views of Netanyahu, Israel’s Military Action
Partisans’ differences in support for Netanyahu and Israel’s military action in both Gaza and Iran are reflected in significant differences by gender, age, race and ethnicity. Men, White adults, and those aged 55 and older are more likely than their counterparts to view Netanyahu favorably and approve of Israel’s military action in Gaza and Iran.
Bottom Line
Americans’ support for Israel’s military operation in Gaza and their positive views of Netanyahu have both reached new lows, reflecting sharp declines in Democrats’ and independents’ support. At the same time, Republicans’ backing of Israel’s military action and its prime minister is holding firm, resulting in record partisan gaps on both. The increasingly skeptical and divided American public poses a challenge for Israeli leadership and U.S. policymakers who are seeking to navigate the conflict.
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