New Yorkers Shift Sympathies to Palestinians in Ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Strategic Insights -

Two years after Hamas's terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent invasion of Gaza, a New York Times/Siena poll has found that more New Yorkers now broadly sympathize with Palestinians over Israelis in the ongoing conflict. The yawning gap of perspectives toward the conflict is particularly stark given that the city is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel. The poll found that 44 percent of registered New York City voters sympathized more with Palestinians, while 26 percent sympathized more with Israel.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New York Times/Siena poll found that 44 percent of registered New York City voters sympathized more with Palestinians, while 26 percent sympathized more with Israel, highlighting a significant shift in public opinion.
  • The poll also found that 51 percent of voters think that criticizing Israel is not inherently antisemitic, while 31 percent disagree, indicating a nuanced understanding of the complex issues at play.
  • The conflict has played a part in sullying New Yorkers' opinion of Israel's actions, leading many to shift their views and speak out against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • The poll's findings underscore the potential policy implications, with Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, calling Israel's actions in Gaza a "genocide" and drawing support from over 60,000 Palestinians who have been killed.
  • The candidates' stances on Israel have been a significant factor in the mayoral election, with Assemblyman Mamdani's backers showing strong support for Palestinian interests, while his opponents, Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, have been critical of his views.
  • A plurality of Mr. Cuomo's supporters, about 43 percent, said that criticizing Israel is not antisemitic, not dissimilar to the share of New Yorkers overall, indicating that the issue is complex and multifaceted.
  • The poll found that voters are more likely to support candidates who take a nuanced stance on the conflict, with Assemblyman Mamdani's willingness to speak out against Israel resonating with younger voters, particularly in Manhattan.

Statistics:

  • The New York Times/Siena poll was conducted among 1,284 New York City registered voters from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6, 2025, with a margin of sampling error among the electorate that is likely to vote in November of about plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
  • Over 99 percent of respondents were contacted on their cellphones, and the list of registered voters used in the poll contains information on demographic characteristics, allowing for targeted sampling and demographic analysis.
  • The poll found that more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and residents are struggling to feed themselves amid Mr. Netanyahu's push to expand the war.
  • 39 percent of voters preferred Assemblyman Mamdani's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, compared to 17 percent who preferred Mr. Cuomo's approach and 10 percent who preferred Mayor Adams' approach.

Sources:

  • The New York Times/Siena poll, September 2-6, 2025.
  • The New York Times, "New Yorkers Shift Sympathies to Palestinians in Ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict" (September 2025).
  • The New York Times, "The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Timeline" (September 2025).
  • Siena University, "The Times/Siena Poll: New York City Registered Voters" (September 2025).