Poll: Number of young Americans who side with Iran over Israel

| Published June 27, 2025

As global tensions flare in the Middle East, a startling trend has emerged among America’s youngest voters: uncertainty. A recent poll revealed that nearly half of Gen Z respondents—those aged 18 to 24—express support for Hamas, while many remain hesitant about backing Israel or military action against Iran. This isn’t just a matter of differing opinion; it signals a deeper problem. Faced with conflicting narratives, social media misinformation, and gaps in historical knowledge, many young Americans appear unsure of what to believe, who to support, or how to interpret global threats. That confusion could have serious consequences—not just for U.S. foreign policy, but for the future of moral clarity in a rapidly changing world.

A recent Harvard/Harris poll of 2,746 registered voters conducted in late March highlights a stark generational divide in how Americans view the Middle East conflict. While 77% of all adults voice support for Israel, younger voters aged 18–24 break ranks: 48% said they support Hamas, compared to just 59% who would back any Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In plain terms, nearly half of voters in that age group lean toward Hamas over Israel—making them the only demographic without a clear majority backing Israel. That contrasts sharply with older voters: among those over 65, 93% support Israel, with only 7% for Hamas .

But the divide doesn’t end there. When asked about Iran, a strong 72% of Americans overall said Iran’s nuclear capabilities should be dismantled, yet just 59% would support Israeli airstrikes to do so. This suggests even broader wariness when it comes to direct military action.

Further, the recent poll explored views on Hamas post-October 7 and the ongoing hostage crisis. Among 18–24-year-olds, 65% want unconditional release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas—though that’s notably lower than the 80% in the overall population.

Experts note this youthful divergence reflects a broader generational trend. According to research by NPR/PBS and YouGov, Gen Z is significantly less likely to support Israel than older Americans and more sympathetic to Palestinians—often viewing Hamas as “freedom fighters”.

🧭 What It Means

• Generational disparity: Young Americans’ near-even split on Israel vs. Hamas signals a seismic shift in viewpoints compared to older generations.

• Cautious on military intervention: Even amid concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, there’s limited appetite for airstrikes—especially among younger voters.

• Policy implications: As Gen Z becomes a larger part of the electorate, their distinct views may reshape U.S. Middle East policy, pushing toward diplomacy over direct military involvement.

⚔️ Red Line Crossed: What Triggered Israel’s Attack on Iran

Israel launched its attack on Iran because it believed Iran was getting dangerously close to developing a nuclear weapon. For years, Iran has been enriching uranium, and by mid-2025, it had reached levels just shy of what’s needed to build a bomb. From Israel’s perspective—especially under Prime Minister Netanyahu—that was a red line. The Israeli government has always said it won’t allow Iran, a country whose leaders have repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction, to acquire nuclear weapons. So when intelligence confirmed Iran’s progress, Israel decided to strike first.

But it wasn’t just about the uranium. At that moment, Iran was facing setbacks across the region. Its allies—like Hezbollah, Hamas, and even Assad’s regime in Syria—were weakened or distracted. Israeli intelligence saw this as a rare opportunity: Iran was vulnerable, and its air defenses could be neutralized. So, in a move that had clearly been planned for months, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion. They even used a Mossad-led covert drone campaign inside Iran beforehand to disable key air defense systems. Then came the airstrikes—targeting nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan, and even military assets near Tehran.

The operation was also a strategic message. Netanyahu, facing pressure at home and abroad, used the moment to reassert Israel’s strength and deterrent power. It was meant to show Iran—and the world—that Israel won’t wait for permission when it believes its survival is on the line.

A new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll found that while most American voters sided with Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) in the recent conflict with Iran, 22 percent of young voters chose Iran, led by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (right)

When Israel launched its airstrikes on Iran, it wasn’t a spontaneous act—it was a calculated response to what it saw as an imminent threat: Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. The operation, dubbed Rising Lion, was designed to neutralize key nuclear facilities before it was too late. But while the Israeli government viewed it as a necessary act of self-defense, many young Americans seemed unsure how to react. That hesitation reveals a deeper issue—not just about foreign policy, but about a generation struggling to understand the conflict at all.

🧠 Where the confusion starts among Gen Z:

1. Misinformation on Social Media

Gen Z relies heavily on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for news—spaces where activism, emotional content, and propaganda often overshadow facts. Complex issues like Israel vs. Hamas are reduced to viral clips and polarizing slogans. Many never encounter the full historical context or both sides of the story.

2. Lack of Historical and Civic Education

Most schools don’t teach the modern history of the Middle East in depth—or skip over the ideological roots of groups like Hamas or Iran’s regime. Without understanding 9/11, the Holocaust, Islamic extremism, or U.S. foreign policy history, Gen Z is left vulnerable to shallow or manipulated interpretations.

3. Moral Relativism and Identity Politics

Gen Z has grown up in a culture that often frames conflicts through a lens of “oppressor vs. oppressed,” and this worldview is sometimes misapplied. As a result, terrorist groups like Hamas are mistakenly viewed by some as “freedom fighters,” while democracies like Israel are unfairly labeled as colonial aggressors. That inverted moral framing breeds confusion.

🎓 Where Schools Fall Short:

1. Lack of Modern History Education
   Most K–12 curricula barely cover post–World War II history, much less the founding of Israel, the rise of Islamic extremism, or the U.S. role in the Middle East. By the time students hear about these issues in college or online, they’re missing key context—making them more susceptible to simplified or distorted narratives.

2. Ideological Teaching Over Objective Facts
   Some classrooms today prioritize identity politics and social justice frameworks over balanced geopolitics. Students may be taught to view every conflict through a colonizer-vs-colonized lens, which can paint Israel as an oppressor and ignore the reality of Hamas’ terrorism or Iran’s threats.

3. No Emphasis on Civic Literacy
   Very few schools teach students how foreign policy works—how treaties, military actions, or alliances are formed. Without understanding how governments actually operate, students end up forming opinions based on emotion, not structure or strategy.

4. Silencing of Debate
   In some academic environments, students feel afraid to ask questions or challenge dominant narratives—especially on sensitive issues like Israel, Palestine, or terrorism. When schools don’t foster open, critical discussion, confusion festers and viewpoints harden without understanding.

Polling showed that the younger the American voter, the more likely they were to support Iran over Isreal in the recent conflict between the two nations. J.L. Partners pollster James Johnson suggested it was because young people ‘have such a negative view of Israel’ over Gaza

The growing confusion among Gen Z over who to support in the Israel–Iran–Hamas conflict isn’t just a generational quirk—it’s a warning sign. With many young Americans unsure where they stand or why, the risk of misguided sympathies and misinformed opinions is real. This lack of clarity demands urgent attention.

✅ What Should Be Done?

1. Strengthen Civic and Historical Education
   Many Gen Zers lack a clear understanding of modern history, the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or the threat posed by Iran. Schools and universities need to teach balanced, fact-based global history, not just activism-driven narratives. Critical thinking should be emphasized over ideological training.

2. Combat Social Media Misinformation
   Much of Gen Z gets its news from TikTok, Instagram, or influencers, where complex issues are reduced to slogans and propaganda. We need more trusted, non-partisan digital content that breaks down geopolitical events clearly, especially on platforms where Gen Z already spends time.

3. Promote Dialogue, Not Division
   Many young people feel pressured to “pick a side” based on groupthink or online outrage. Instead of demonizing or shaming differing opinions, educators, leaders, and even the media should foster constructive debate and open discussion. Being unsure should be seen as a starting point—not a failure.

4. Civic Engagement & Policy Literacy
   Gen Z should be encouraged to learn how U.S. foreign policy works, how military decisions are made, and what real-world consequences those decisions carry. Programs like mock debates, internships, or even curated news briefings could help.

5. Expose Real-World Consequences
   Hearing from victims of terrorism, military veterans, or citizens from war zones (on both sides) can humanize the issues. Gen Z needs to see beyond hashtags and understand the moral weight of siding with groups like Hamas or ignoring nuclear threats.

💥 Resulting Effects of Gen Z’s Confusion

1. Moral Ambiguity on Terrorism
   Some Gen Z individuals view terrorist groups like Hamas as “freedom fighters,” blurring the moral line between violent extremism and legitimate resistance. This creates a dangerous normalization of terrorism under the banner of activism.

2. Weakened National Consensus
   Unlike past generations, there’s no clear majority among young voters backing traditional U.S. allies like Israel. This division weakens America’s unified stance in global affairs and could undermine foreign policy consistency.

3. Susceptibility to Propaganda
   Lacking historical context and relying heavily on TikTok or influencer content, many young people fall prey to simplified or false narratives—making them targets for foreign propaganda, especially from adversarial regimes like Iran.

4. Shallow Political Engagement
   Many Gen Zers react emotionally to headlines but don’t fully understand the issues. As a result, their political engagement may be loud but uninformed, influencing elections and policies in ways they may not even realize.

5. Pressure on Schools and Media
   The confusion has sparked calls to reform education standards and challenge the role of ideological bias in classrooms and newsrooms. Critics argue young Americans are being trained to feel strongly—but not to think critically.

 Bottom Line:

The growing confusion among Gen Z over global threats isn’t just a cultural issue—it’s a national security concern. As younger Americans drift toward moral relativism and fall prey to social media propaganda, the clarity once offered by strong leadership has faded. Under President Trump, America led with strength, stood firmly with Israel, and drew clear lines against terrorism and rogue states like Iran. Today, with weak border enforcement and a foreign policy in disarray, our enemies are emboldened—and our youth are unsure. Restoring American resolve starts with truth, education, and leadership that puts America First again.

SOURCES: DAILYMAIL ONLINE – Poll: Number of young Americans who side with Iran over Israel

THE NEW YORK POST – Young Americans continue to have mixed views about Hamas and Israel, per poll