NBC poll shows massive “sympathy” for Palestinians among American Gen Z
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A new NBC News poll highlighted a massive change in the American public opinion, revealing a country deeply divided along partisan and, most strikingly, generational lines regarding the ‘Israeli’-Palestinian conflict.
According to data analyzed by NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki, the American public is now split exactly down the middle when asked who they sympathize with more.
A Nation Divided: 50/50
The survey found that 50% of Americans sympathize more with ‘Israelis’, while the other 50% sympathize more with Palestinians.
This "dead even" split marks a significant departure from historical trends, where American support has traditionally leaned heavily toward ‘Israel’.
"This is now much more even than it used to be," Kornacki noted, identifying two primary drivers for this tectonic shift: partisanship and age.
The Partisan Gap
The data shows a mirror-image divide between the two major political parties:
Republicans: Continue to show robust support for ‘Israel’, with 81% sympathizing with ‘Israelis’ compared to just 19% for Palestinians.
Democrats: Have seen a massive reversal. Now, 75%—three out of four—say they sympathize more with Palestinians, while only 25% side with ‘Israelis’.
The Gen Z "Sea Change"
Perhaps the most significant finding of the poll is the overwhelming shift among the youngest block of voters.
Gen Z (typically defined as those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s) is driving the national average toward the 50/50 mark.
- 74% of Gen Z respondents sympathize more with Palestinians.
- 26% sympathize more with ‘Israelis’.
Kornacki described this as a "massive sea change" that persists regardless of political affiliation within that age group.
Political Fallout
The polling comes at a precarious time for the current administration, as the data also reflects broader dissatisfaction. Approval for the handling of international conflicts—specifically the ongoing war in Iran and the broader Middle East—remains low, with only 33% of adults approving of the President's performance on these issues.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, these numbers suggest that the "ironclad" support for ‘Israel’ that once defined American politics is increasingly being challenged by a younger, more vocal generation of voters.
