Israel Has Lost America’s Favor; Palestine Has Won the World’s Hearts

Photo via Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

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It is widely acknowledged that the events of October 7, 2023, in which armed Hamas militants killed, wounded, and kidnapped Israeli citizens, were a global tragedy. It was not a surprise that the event came to be known as “Israel’s 9/11” and that the Israeli government took a similar approach to America when dealing with the crisis. 

In their initial reaction to the attacks, the majority of Americans sympathized with the Israeli people, and half of the population supported the government’s actions. 

However, since this tragedy occurred, Israel has committed various international war crimes against the people of Gaza, with an estimated death toll exceeding 67,000 innocent Palestinians and nearly 170,000 wounded. The Palestinian people have been bombed, shot, starved, and deprived of water, electricity, and medicine. Nearly a third of these victims have been children, with at least 19,400 dead since October 7, 2023. 

But now, the tides are turning. The vast majority of Americans no longer support the actions of the Israeli government, and 78% of Americans say they want an immediate ceasefire. 

International support for Palestine has also drastically increased, with over 150 countries recognizing Palestine as a state, and international genocide experts agreeing that Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians. 

This week, an international humanitarian flotilla, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), led by notable activists such as Greta Thunberg, sailed to the banks of Palestine to deliver vital aid. While Israel intercepted the ships, the members of the crew called for their respective nations to pay attention to their mission and continue to keep their eyes on Gaza. The presence of the flotilla also allowed for Palestinians to fish on the shores of Gaza without being shot by the Israeli Defense Force.  

On the internet, people have been calling attention to the Global Sumud Flotilla, the Red Crescent, and other forms of aid being sent to Palestinians. Israel has killed a record number of aid workers, bringing more eyes to the death and destruction they are wreaking on the area. 

The internet has been the driving force behind Americans’ opinions on Israel and Palestine, with most people getting their information from online sources. This could include articles from popular news outlets or videos from Palestinian citizens themselves, who are filming the destruction of their homes and posting them for the world to see. 

Additionally, an increasing number of Americans are now acknowledging that this conflict did not begin on October 7, 2023, but instead goes back seven decades to the founding of the Israeli state. In fact, the nation’s origins are inseparable from violence against Palestinians, as seen in the Nakba, which was the violent expulsion and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by Israelis from 1947 to 1949. 

But did it really end? Americans are increasingly saying no, with 40% of Americans, and more specifically, 60% of Democrats, stating that they believe that Israel is intentionally slaughtering Palestinians. Americans’ approval of Israel and, by extension, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is at an all-time low –only 32%– while disapproval of the military has reached a staggering 60%. This is absolutely unprecedented, especially when considering America has always been Israel’s strongest ally, supporting them in international affairs and providing them with military and diplomatic support.

This decrease in support, both in America and internationally, has caused many influential celebrities and politicians to begin voicing their support for Palestine, as well as calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. These figures include NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani, Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, and celebrities Mark Ruffalo, Melissa Barrera, and Dua Lipa. 

As time passes, it is impossible to say whether this will remain the new status quo. Since Americans have become increasingly aware of what their government has been supporting, questions have been raised about whether Israel will be able to keep America’s support moving forward. It appears that Israel believes it has won its war against the unarmed Palestinians, but they have lost the trust of their greatest supporter. 

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This article was edited by Ella Keddy and Ayden Suber