Israel has its work cut out for it if it wants to maintain that special strong relationship with the United States in the years ahead. A new Harvard‑Harris Poll has reveals a shocking and worrying trend: 60% of Generation Z—ages 18 to 24—say they side with Hamas over Israel in the Gaza war. This is a major red flag for Israel, though with the nearly-unstoppable propagation of lies online, there’s likely little to be done.
Indeed, the results of the poll show just how far off the deep end America’s younger generation have gone when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We’re no longer talking about cool‑headed debate or humanitarian empathy. We’re talking about siding with a brazen and blood-soaked terrorist organization that calls for the genocide of Jews, that massacred families on October 7, 2023, and that hides behind civilians as human shields.
Yet, to the youngest cohort of American voters—those supposedly raised on tolerance and social justice—that isn’t disqualifying. It’s virtue.
Meanwhile, support for Israel rises sharply with age. Older generations still stand with the Jewish state, with 65‑plus voters clocking in at 89% support for Israel—and only 11% for Hamas. By contrast, millennial and Gen X numbers (65–74%) plummet only once you reach Gen Z. It’s not just a dip; it’s a free‑fall.
Across all ages, 78% agree Hamas must release hostages unconditionally or face consequence. But the youth cohort trailed again. When asked whether Israel should accept a hostage deal only if Hamas leaves Gaza, only 41% of Gen Z agreed—meaning 59% would make a deal and let Hamas stay. For Israelis, such an outcome is effectively surrender and hands Hamas a victory that can only be lead to further violence.
Republicans rallied behind Israel (82% vs. 18%), while 67% of Democrats likewise favored Israel—but a worrying 33% backed Hamas. This follows other survey results in recent years showing Israel becoming more and more a partisan issue in America.
What’s going on?
Back in March, another poll found Gen Z was already almost evenly split—48% supporting Hamas. Now, the line has tipped over into outright majority support.
Why the shift? Gen Z consumes news in memes, TikToks, and “counterspeech” echo chambers. They are told Israel is evil, Hamas is “resistance,” and victims are complicit. Institutions like universities amplify that distortion through protests, BDS drives, and campus encampments. That moral corruption begins where nuance dies.
Whatever their nominal priorities—climate change, equality, student debt—they’re making juvenile moral choices about genocide and terror fed by a mainstream media today more focused on virtue signaling than objective reporting.
Gen Z isn’t disillusioned. It’s derailed. If they can’t understand who Hamas really is and why there’s no peace in the region, then the entire system has failed that generation.
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