The harrowing images of starvation and suffering emerging from the Gaza Strip are fueling a seismic shift within American politics, challenging the decades-long consensus on Washington’s role in the Middle East. The debate has found a powerful new current within the MAGA movement, questioning whether unconditional support for Israel aligns with Donald Trump’s “America First” platform. Trump himself signaled a notable break on July 28, acknowledging a “real famine” in Gaza and publicly contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment, stating, “From television, I would say not so much, because you see those children and they look very hungry.”
This shift suggests that unwavering U.S. support for Israel, long a pillar of conservative orthodoxy, may be weakening. The pro-Trump Heritage Foundation think tank in March called for Washington to “reframe its relationship with Israel” from a “special” one to an “equal strategic partnership.” This evolving mindset was starkly illustrated by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who not only opposed $500 million in funding for Israel’s missile defense system but also used the term “genocide” to describe Israeli actions.
This sentiment is increasingly reflected in public opinion. A recent CNN poll revealed that the share of Republicans who believe Israel’s actions are justified has dropped from 68% in 2023 to 52%. Among young Americans, disapproval of the U.S. ally has surged from 35% to 50%. The grim statistics frequently cited in U.S. media—over 60,000 killed in Gaza since October 2023, the majority being women and children, with nearly 146,000 wounded—provide a stark backdrop to this changing public mood.
While a resolution from Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders to block arms sales to Israel was defeated, it garnered a record 27 votes, signaling growing dissent within Congress. This evolving narrative is amplified by influential media outlets. The New York Times recently condemned President Biden’s response to the conflict as an embodiment of a “failed, immoral, and doomed” U.S. policy in the region, summarized as “talk peace, fuel war.” Similarly, The Economist argued that the famine in Gaza demonstrates a failure of Israeli strategy and has led to its increasing isolation.
The international pressure is mounting in parallel. In a joint statement, Arab and European nations have called for an immediate ceasefire and committed to a 15-month timeline for establishing an independent Palestinian state. Countries like France and Spain have declared their intent to formally recognize a Palestinian state, while Slovenia has imposed an arms embargo on Israel, and Belgium has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes.
Even within Israel, calls to end the military operations and engage in dialogue with Palestinians are growing louder. A late-July conference in New York, initiated by France and Saudi Arabia, demonstrated an overwhelming global consensus for a two-state solution. The United States’ refusal to participate, dismissing the event as a “publicity stunt,” underscored its growing diplomatic isolation on the issue and suggested that Washington’s monopoly on the Middle East peace process is eroding.