A landmark Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals 58% of Americans now believe all United Nations members should recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, reflecting a dramatic shift in U.S. public opinion as Israel’s war in Gaza approaches its two-year mark. The survey of 4,446 U.S. adults conducted from August 13-16 shows growing condemnation of Israel’s military actions, with 59% agreeing the response has been "excessive" and 65% supporting U.S. intervention to address starvation in Gaza. The findings signal eroding support for Israel’s policies even among traditional allies, with only 41% of Republicans endorsing recognition compared to 78% of Democrats.
The poll coincides with unprecedented international momentum for Palestinian statehood. Close U.S. allies including Canada, Britain, and France recently announced plans to recognize Palestine at September’s UN General Assembly, citing "unimaginable levels" of suffering in Gaza. UN agencies confirm Israel’s blockade has created man-made famine conditions, with over 62,000 Palestinians killed and most of the population displaced. Despite Israeli claims that Hamas diverts aid, the UN human rights office emphasizes Israel bears responsibility for starvation under international law.
While global consensus grows, Israel approved 3,400 new settlement units in the E1 corridor east of Jerusalem, a move explicitly designed to "erase Palestinian statehood from the table" according to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits such population transfers, yet the U.S. continues providing billions in military aid. The poll reveals Americans increasingly reject this stance: 65% demand action on Gaza starvation, though 41% of Republicans oppose aid, reflecting Trump’s "America First" cuts to international assistance programs.
The International Court of Justice ruled Israel’s occupation illegal in 2024, while the ICC maintains arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s sanctions against ICC judges investigating Israel, including France’s Nicolas Guillou and Canada’s Kimberly Prost have drawn condemnation from European allies. Meanwhile, the death of 19-year-old Marah Abu Zuhri after medical evacuation from Gaza to Italy exposed diagnostic failures caused by Gaza’s collapsed healthcare system. Italian doctors found no leukemia despite Israeli claims, instead documenting "profound wasting" from malnutrition.
The poll reveals a stark partisan gap: 78% of Democrats support recognition versus 41% of Republicans. This reflects broader trends; 59% now deem Israel’s response excessive, up from 53% in February 2024. As Vice President JD Vance urges Elon Musk to abandon third-party plans and support Trump’s GOP, the administration faces pressure to align with evolving public sentiment. With 65% of Americans supporting anti-starvation interventions in Gaza, the data suggests a potential reckoning for unconditional U.S. support of Israel as the humanitarian toll deepens.