Almost a majority believe that Israel’s prime minister is “guilty of war crimes in Gaza,” the poll found.
49 percent of Americans think the United States should arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes, according to a recent poll. After three years of war in the Middle East, Israel’s once strong support in the United States has waned.
When asked whether the United States should execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest, 49% of respondents said yes. “yes” in an Economist/YouGov poll published on Tuesday, with 27% saying “no” and 23% were unsure.
The ICC issued the document in 2024, accusing him of using “Hunger as a way of war,” crimes against humanity, and deliberately directing attacks against the civilians of Gaza. However, the ICC has no way to enforce the warrant, as neither Israel nor the United States recognizes the court’s jurisdiction.
In a survey of 1,500 American adults, the poll found that 47% trust Netanyahu “guilty of war crimes in Gaza,” while 24% disagree and 29% are unsure.
In the nearly three years since Israel began bombing Gaza in response to surprise attacks by Hamas militants, the conflict has become a multi-faceted conflict. Israel has invaded Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, and is currently engaged in a major regional war with Iran. The conflict has lowered Israel’s profile in the US, with a Gallup poll in February finding that, for the first time in history, more Americans sympathize with the Palestinians than with the Israelis.
In the United States, support for Israel has traditionally been strongest among Republicans and seniors. However, 43% of over-65s are now backing Netanyahu, according to Tuesday’s poll. Support for the arrest of the Israeli prime minister is lowest among self-identified ‘MAGA’ Republicans, at 21%.
The Israeli leader arrived in Washington this week to meet with US President Donald Trump and attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, an avowed supporter of Israel. Before Netanyahu’s arrival, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that he would investigate the legal possibility of arresting the Israeli Prime Minister when he travels to the city for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Mamdani later admitted that he would not have the legal authority to execute the ICC warrant, and called on the Trump administration to do so instead.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs to The Hague,” Mamdani said, referring to the Dutch city where the ICC is located. “He is a war criminal who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court, and what you will find is that it is an opinion that is held by many, just because of what he has done over the years.”
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu dismissed the ICC case against him as “lie,” and accused Mandani “inciting hatred” against the Jews. “I’m going to New York,” he told Fox host Sean Hannity. “I will speak the truth to this hateful elected official who is pitting one group of New Yorkers against others. He is turning them against the Jews of New York.”
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