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German attitudes toward Israel have undergone a dramatic transformation, with a majority of Germans now viewing the country negatively following its military operations in Gaza, according to a survey released Friday.
The Allensbach research institute poll, conducted for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, found that 57% of Germans now hold negative views of Israel—a sharp increase from just 23% in 2022.
The survey revealed widespread criticism of Israel's military actions, with 65% of respondents describing Israel's operations in Gaza as "inappropriate." Only 13% expressed support for the military campaign.
The poll also exposed shifting views on Germany's historical relationship with Israel. When asked whether Germany bears "special responsibility" toward Israel due to its Nazi past, 52% of respondents rejected this notion, while 28% supported it.
In one of the survey's most striking findings, 73% of Germans said they saw "some truth" in characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide," with only 9% explicitly rejecting this description.
The changing sentiment extends to perceptions of Israel's role in global security. The poll found that 37% of Germans now view Israel as a major threat to world peace, a significant jump from 11% in January 2021.
The Allensbach survey was conducted between June 1 and 12, 2025, capturing German public opinion before Israel's subsequent military strikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities.
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