Nearly 40 percent of American Jews believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, according to a poll published on Saturday by The Washington Post.
The poll paints a picture of US Jews’ sentiments regarding Israel, Gaza and their own situation nearly two years into the war between Israel and Hamas in the Strip. It was taken September 2-9, with 815 American Jewish respondents and a margin of error of 4.7 percentage points.
The poll found that most Jewish Americans surveyed believe Israel has committed war crimes in the Strip, and nearly a third say the US is too supportive of Israel. But respondents were evenly split in their views of Israel’s overall military campaign there. More than two-thirds have a negative view of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership of Israel.
At the same time, the poll found that most American Jews are emotionally attached to Israel, believe Israel’s existence is vital to the Jewish future, and support continued US military aid to Israel. Almost one-third said they do not feel safe in the US.
The poll was taken before key recent developments in the war, including the launch of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza City and US President Donald Trump’s presentation last week of a plan to end the war, which Netanyahu has accepted. Hamas and Israel are due to begin talks over the plan on Monday, with the prime minister predicting that Hamas will release the 48 hostages it is holding within days.
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The poll comes amid a flurry of surveys showing declining support for Israel in the United States. It also reflects declining support for Israel’s military campaign among American Jews. A poll taken by the Pew Research Center a year and a half earlier, in mid-February 2024, found that 62% of American Jews said the way Israel was carrying out the war against Hamas was acceptable.
This picture, taken during a media tour organized by the Israeli army, shows Israeli heavy machinery in front of damaged buildings in the vicinity of the Jordanian Field Hospital in Gaza City, Friday, October 3, 2025. (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)
According to the Washington Post poll, 39% of American Jews said Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, an accusation frequently leveled by Israel’s harshest critics, which Jerusalem adamantly rejects. Fifty-one percent said Israel did not commit genocide. Before answering the question, respondents were told that “The United Nations defines genocide as ‘acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.’
Among US Jews ages 18 to 34, 50% say Israel has committed genocide.
In addition, 61% said Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza, and 29% said it has not. Fifty-nine percent said Israel is not doing enough to ensure food aid reaches the enclave’s population, as opposed to 30% who said it is doing enough.
But views of Israel’s overall military conduct were almost evenly divided. The poll found that 46% approve of Israel’s military conduct, while 48% disapprove.
In addition, 68% of respondents said Hamas is more to blame for civilian deaths in Gaza, because it started the war and fights from civilian areas. By contrast, just 32% blame Israel more because it has bombed civilians’ residences and workplaces. Nearly all respondents, 94%, said Hamas has committed war crimes.
The poll also found that 80% or more of US Jews are concerned about civilian deaths in Gaza, the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, the threat posed to Israel by the terror group and Israeli soldiers’ safety in Gaza. Majorities said Israel, Hamas, Netanyahu and the United States all bear responsibility for the continuation of the war.
According to the poll, US Jews disapprove of the prime minister, with 68% rating his leadership of Israel negatively, including 48% who call it poor. By contrast, 32% approve of Netanyahu’s leadership.
Protesters rally in support of the hostages in Central Park, New York City, June 8, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)
US Jews’ overall support for Israel, however, appeared to be holding steady. The poll found that 56% of American Jews surveyed feel emotionally attached to Israel, similar to the 58% who said so in a 2020 Pew survey. However, among US Jews ages 18 to 34, only 36% feel an emotional attachment.
In addition, 76% said Israel’s existence is vital to the long-term future of the Jewish people, with 16% disagreeing. Nearly 60% said they had “a lot” or “some” in common with Israeli Jews.
And 59% of American Jews support continued US military aid to Israel to fight against Hamas, in contrast with multiple recent polls that have found most Americans overall oppose continued military aid to Israel.
The poll found, however, that 32% of American Jews feel the US is too supportive of Israel, as opposed to 22% in the 2020 Pew survey. The Post poll found that 47% of respondents think US support for Israel is at the right level, and 20% want Washington to be more supportive.
In contrast to Israelis, most of whom oppose Palestinian statehood, 59% of US Jews say a Palestinian state can coexist peacefully with Israel.
US law enforcement officials investigate after an antisemitic firebombing attack near the Pearl Street Mall, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The poll also touched on antisemitism in the US, which, according to repeated surveys and law enforcement reports, has risen substantially since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack that began the war. The Washington Post found that 26% of respondents feel “not too” safe as Jews in the US, while six percent feel “not at all” safe. Eighteen percent feel “very” safe as Jews in the US, and 51% feel “somewhat” safe.
Seventy-one percent of respondents said being Jewish is important in their lives.
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