A new Washington Post poll has revealed a dramatic and complex shift in the attitudes of American Jews toward Israel and its ongoing war in Gaza, marking what some commentators describe as a potential historic rupture in a relationship long considered unbreakable. Conducted from September 2-9, 2025, among 815 American Jews with a margin of error of 4.7%, the survey paints a nuanced picture of a community grappling with its identity, its values, and its connection to a nation that has traditionally been central to Jewish life.
The numbers are striking: 61 percent of American Jews now believe Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza, and about 40 percent go so far as to say the country is guilty of genocide against Palestinians. These are not marginal opinions—they represent a significant portion of a community that, for decades, has been one of Israel’s staunchest sources of support in the United States. According to The Washington Post, these findings “signal the possibility of a historic rupture in ties between US Jewry and Israel after decades of close connection.”
Disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widespread. Sixty-eight percent of respondents gave him a negative rating, with nearly half describing his performance as “poor.” This marks a 20-point increase in disapproval compared to a Pew Research Center survey conducted five years ago. The erosion of trust is even more pronounced among younger Jews, with only 36 percent of those aged 18 to 34 reporting an emotional connection to Israel, compared to 68 percent among those 65 and older.
Yet, the picture is far from one-sided. The same poll found that 94 percent of American Jews are critical of Hamas’ actions, with nearly all respondents believing that Hamas committed war crimes against Israel during the conflict that began on October 7, 2023. On that day, Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 hostages, triggering Israel’s massive military response. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s retaliatory incursion has since killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and displaced many more, while also leading to widespread hunger in the territory.
American Jews remain deeply divided over Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Forty-six percent back Israel’s military campaign, while 48 percent oppose it. This split is even more pronounced when compared to the broader U.S. public, where just 32 percent support Israel’s actions. The poll also highlights a stark political divide: 80 percent of Jewish Republicans support the Gaza campaign, compared with half of independents and just a third of Democrats. Men are more likely than women to support Israel, and those with higher education tend to be less supportive.
Generational differences are especially pronounced. While 56 percent of all Jews report an emotional connection to Israel, that figure drops to just 36 percent among those aged 18 to 34. Among younger Jews, half say Israel is committing genocide, compared to about a third of older respondents. This generational gap reflects broader trends of American Jews—who often identify with liberal and universal values—distancing themselves from what they perceive as an increasingly conservative and militant Israeli leadership.
Despite the criticism, most American Jews still view Israel as essential to Jewish identity. Seventy-six percent said the state’s existence is vital for the future of the Jewish people, and 58 percent feel a cultural or emotional connection to Israeli Jews. Bob Haas, a business consultant from Pennsylvania whose grandfather fled pogroms in Poland, explained to The Washington Post, “The existence of Israel is very important to the Jewish people. But the way the Netanyahu government has conducted itself does nothing to safeguard Jews, in Israel or around the world.”
For some, the moral complexity of the situation is deeply personal. Julia Seidman, a Washington-based writer, told The Post, “Initially, Israel in a sense had no choice. But in no way does that justify what is happening now, two years later. The amount of human suffering that we are seeing now … I’m just disgusted.” Others, like Dana Witten of Boston, reject the genocide label: “To call it a genocide is a false equivalence to in some ways demean the Jews, because they should know better or something. I don’t understand that. And it’s harmful to the discourse. It’s craziness to say it’s genocide.”
The poll also suggests that the debate is not confined to left-leaning segments of the community. Even some traditional supporters of Israel, including conservative and evangelical audiences, are expressing frustration with the Israeli government’s handling of the war. Notably, about 60 percent of American Jews still favor continued U.S. military aid to Israel in its fight against Hamas, despite widespread criticism of the war’s conduct and humanitarian consequences.
The shifting attitudes among American Jews have had political repercussions in Washington. In July 2025, most Senate Democrats voted to block an arms sale to Israel—a proposal that was ultimately defeated by Republican opposition. Senator Bernie Sanders, himself Jewish, has led calls to limit military aid, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pushed for more humanitarian aid to Gaza and previously urged Netanyahu to resign. President Donald Trump, by contrast, continues to embrace Netanyahu and defend Israel’s conduct, though his messaging is often directed more at conservative evangelical voters than at American Jews. Trump has also promoted a multipart peace deal for Gaza, which Netanyahu accepted, but with 22 hostages still in captivity and ongoing negotiations with Hamas, a resolution remains elusive.
The poll further reveals that 59 percent of American Jews believe Israel and an independent Palestinian state can live side by side in peace, and 62 percent support Gaza being governed by an elected Palestinian government. Only 4 percent see Hamas as a legitimate authority for Gaza. As for U.S. support for Israel, 47 percent say it is “about right,” 32 percent believe it is excessive, and 20 percent say it is insufficient—a notable shift, with those saying U.S. support is too much up 10 points since 2020 and 21 points since 2013.
Ultimately, the poll underscores a community in turmoil, wrestling with conflicting loyalties and values. For some, the rise in antisemitism only reinforces the need for a Jewish state as a refuge. For others, Israel’s current policies have undermined its moral authority and its claim to represent Jews worldwide. As Max Parke, a software engineer from Brooklyn, put it, “Jewish principles would say we need to respect everyone’s humanity. In Israel, that is not the case; it privileges Jewishness in countless policies, without following actual Jewish principles.”
With deep polarization, generational divides, and political ramifications both in the U.S. and Israel, the future of the American Jewish relationship with Israel is uncertain. What is clear is that automatic support for Israel can no longer be taken for granted—and the debate within the American Jewish community is far from over.
