Shifts in Support for Israel and Hamas
In the wake of Hamas’s devastating attack on October 7 two years ago, the narrative surrounding the conflict between Israel and Hamas has dramatically shifted. Many individuals who previously sided with Israel are now expressing solidarity with Palestinians. This shift might be closely tied to the significant pro-Palestinian sentiment prevalent on social media.
A recent report from the nonpartisan research center Cybersecurity for Democracies indicates that “as the situation in Gaza continues, TikTok users in the U.S. are showcasing substantial support for Palestinians.” The findings revealed that for every post advocating for Israel on TikTok last September, there were around 17 supporting Palestinians.
“What implications follow this? If one spends hours each day on social media and encounters a 17-to-1 anti-Israel narrative, what do you think would occur? What consequences might arise from that?” queried Blaze TV host Stu Bruguiere.
He continued to reflect on this, alluding to a recent Washington Post article that stated many American Jews are critiquing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Polls suggest that a significant number believe Israel has engaged in war crimes against Palestinians, with about 40% asserting that Israel has committed genocide.
Bruguiere argued that the definition of “genocide” applied by many Americans does not align with previously established definitions of the term. Furthermore, he pointed out that American Jews seem increasingly disillusioned, with a recent poll indicating a notable decline in their approval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership. In 2020, 40% rated his leadership as “excellent,” while only 32% did so in 2025, with a growing percentage now categorizing it as “poor.”
This sinking support is not limited to American Jews; it appears to be reflected across the broader American populace. A national survey of 1,313 registered voters conducted by The New York Times and Siena observed that general support for Israel among U.S. citizens is faltering. The survey revealed that a majority of American voters are now opposed to providing further economic or military aid to Israel. Moreover, a striking 40% of respondents believe that Israel deliberately targets civilians, a significant increase from 22% in 2023.
Bruguiere attributes much of this “tectonic shift” to the dynamics of social media. He remarked, “This isn’t purely about truth. It’s more about how to frame narratives that negatively portray Israel, which seems to dominate both social media and traditional media platforms.”
