In a development that has sent ripples through both Washington and Jerusalem, the United States reportedly intervened to prevent Israel from suspending humanitarian aid to Gaza in response to Hamas’s failure to return the bodies of Israeli hostages. The revelation, first reported by The Times of Israel on October 26, 2025, has thrown a spotlight on the increasingly complex relationship between the two allies and arrives at a moment when American public sentiment on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is shifting in unprecedented ways.
For decades, the U.S.-Israel alliance has been a cornerstone of American foreign policy in the Middle East. The two countries have shared strategic interests, robust military cooperation, and, until recently, a largely unshakable public consensus in the U.S. favoring Israel. But the events of the past two years—marked most dramatically by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, described by many as genocide—have upended old certainties and introduced a new era of scrutiny and debate.
According to The Times of Israel, Israeli officials had intended to suspend aid deliveries to Gaza as a pressure tactic after Hamas refused to return the bodies of Israeli hostages. However, the U.S. government stepped in, blocking the move and insisting that humanitarian assistance continue to flow. This intervention, while rooted in long-standing American policy to maintain humanitarian corridors even amid conflict, has exposed rare discord between Washington and Jerusalem. As one political analyst cited in the report put it, "the US intervention in Israel’s aid decisions reflects the intricate dynamics of international relations." The analyst continued, "while humanitarian concerns are paramount, geopolitical interests often influence nations’ actions, leading to complex situations such as the one highlighted in the report."
This episode is far from an isolated incident. It comes at a time when U.S. public opinion on Israel, Palestine, and American policy has undergone a profound transformation. What was once a marginal issue for most American voters has, over the past two years, moved to the very center of national political debate. The 2024 U.S. elections marked a turning point: pollsters and candidates were compelled to address the war in Gaza as a live electoral issue, and the pace of change in public sentiment has only accelerated since then.
Polls now show record-high sympathy for Palestinians among Americans, with support for U.S. military aid to Israel in decline. About half of Americans now express the view that Israel’s response in Gaza has been excessive—a sharp departure from the widespread support Israel received immediately following Hamas’s October 7 attack. This shift is not limited to progressives or young voters. Surveys indicate that the change spans all age groups within the Democratic base and, crucially, includes a significant share of Independents. As The Times of Israel noted, "the report highlights a rare instance of discord between the allies, raising questions about the dynamics of their partnership."
Perhaps most strikingly, a growing share of Americans now use the term "genocide" to describe Israeli actions in Gaza, echoing the language of international bodies and countries like Spain, Brazil, and South Africa, which have taken Israel to the International Court of Justice on genocide charges. Sympathy for Palestinians has reached record highs, at times even surpassing sympathy for Israelis—a dramatic reversal from just a few years ago. This development is especially remarkable given the decades-long pro-Israel bias in American media coverage.
The numbers tell the story. The U.S. remains Israel’s greatest foreign benefactor, providing close to $4 billion in aid annually—a figure that soared to at least $17.9 billion in 2024. Yet, in the most recent surveys, more Americans now oppose than support additional military assistance to Israel, a notable reversal from decades of consensus. Among likely Democratic voters, 72% believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, 65% support sanctions on the Israeli government, and 75% oppose renewing U.S. weapons support. Among Republicans, support for Israel remains strong, but even here, unfavorable views are rising—especially among younger Republicans, who are now evenly split in their opinions of Israel. And among Independents, support for U.S. military assistance to Israel has dropped from roughly 50% in 2023 to just 30% by October 2025.
These shifts have real political consequences. During the 2024 elections, the war in Gaza became a central electoral issue in the United States. Nearly 29% of President Biden’s 2020 voters who abandoned Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 cited U.S. support for Israel as their top reason, according to the IMEU policy project. The issue isn’t going away: a recent IMEU poll shows that 34% of likely Democratic voters say U.S. policy toward Israel will shape their 2026 vote, with most of those voters favoring reduced support for Israel. Yet, the majority of Democratic leaders continue to support Israel and vote against the wishes of their constituents, risking both votes and confidence.
There is now a rising chorus urging Democratic leaders to take bolder positions. Many advocate for refusing campaign donations from groups like AIPAC, cosponsoring legislation such as the Block the Bombs Act (H.R. 3565) to halt weapons shipments to Israel, and backing measures that would restrict imports of Israeli-made weapons or deny entry to Israeli officials. According to the IMEU poll, these positions enjoy strong support among Democratic voters, with 76% supporting a ban on U.S. credit for Israeli bonds and 62% favoring restrictions on Israeli officials. These policies are reminiscent of the global sanctions that helped end apartheid in South Africa and could allow Democrats to build electoral momentum while meeting their constituents’ demands.
For Republicans, the picture is more complex. While the party’s base still largely supports Israel, the erosion of support among younger Republicans and the growing skepticism among Independents suggest that the old political calculations may no longer hold. In a polarized electorate where more Americans now identify as Independent than as Republican or Democrat, the shift in Independent sentiment could prove decisive in future elections.
Underlying all of this is a broader debate about the intersection of humanitarian aid and political objectives. The U.S. intervention to keep aid flowing to Gaza, despite Israeli objections, highlights the challenges faced by nations navigating these competing imperatives. As one expert observed, "the US intervention underscores the complexities of balancing humanitarian aid with political considerations in conflict zones."
As the dust settles on these revelations, one thing is clear: the U.S.-Israel relationship is at a crossroads. The American public’s evolving views, the growing salience of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in domestic politics, and the willingness of U.S. leaders to intervene—even against the wishes of their closest allies—signal a new era in both foreign policy and public debate. The choices made in the coming months will not only shape the future of U.S. policy in the Middle East but also test the very foundations of American democracy and its commitment to the will of its citizens.
