Finally, US President Donald Trump decided to cease fire in Gaza, a decision that came as no surprise to those familiar with the decision-making mechanisms in Washington. Trump alone has the power to impose such a decision, given America's political and military influence over Israel, whose policies remain dependent on American support.
But the fundamental question is: Why now? Why wasn't the decision taken months ago, although the extent of the destruction in Gaza hadn't changed much? And the short answer might be: It was the profound dissatisfaction in American and European public opinion that forced Trump to act. This illustrates how Western democracies work and how a shift in popular sentiment can alter the direction of policy, regardless of alliances or convictions. The Western public opinion has begun to impose limits on what Israel can do in Gaza without paying a political price. It clearly stated that American and European support for Israel has eroded, and that the continuation of the war will isolate it even from its closest allies. Countries like Britain, France, Spain, Norway and Portugal are now forced to accommodate their peoples, who can no longer accept scenes of killing and destruction. So, they have chosen to recognize the Palestinian state to avoid a domestic political cost.
In the United States, opinion polls have confirmed this shift. A Reuters-Ipsos poll in August 2025 showed that 59% of Americans believe the Israeli response has gone beyond acceptable limits, and 58% support recognizing an independent Palestinian state. The Pew Center reported that 53% of Americans now hold negative views on Israel, compared to 42% three years ago. A Gallup poll also showed that popular support for Israeli military operations has fallen to only 32%, while 60% was against them. This popular shift has worried the Republican Party, which is seeking to maintain its majority in Congress. Defending Israel has become an electoral burden. Thus, an unconditional support for Israel has become politically costly.
In Europe, the picture is much clearer. According to a YouGov-EuroTrack poll from mid-2025, support for Israel in major countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and the United Kingdom has fallen to its lowest levels. Only 21% of those with a favourable opinion of Israel have expressed a favorable opinion, while nearly 70% expressed negative or cautious views. In Germany, 54% supported recognition of an independent Palestinian state, compared to 31% who opposed it. In Britain, 53% believed that Israeli operations in Gaza had gone too far, and 45% supported recognition of a Palestinian state.
These figures are not marginal details, but rather indicators of a radical shift in the Western opinion. The live-images of destruction in Gaza, broadcast day after day, have become more powerful than any political rhetoric justifying the war. The Western world, which once viewed Israel as the "perpetual victim," has come to realize the imbalance of power and that what is happening in Gaza represents collective punishment, not self-defence.
In this context, Trump's decision becomes an attempt to contain the wave of popular discontent within the United States and the West, in general. He realizes that the continuation of the war not only harms Israel's image but also threatens the United States' position as an international mediator. The humanitarian tragedy in Gaza has succeeded in redefining the conflict in the global consciousness and placed Israel in a position it had never known before, facing sharp criticism from within Western societies themselves.
The world has changed, and people's minds have become more understanding, open-minded, and aware. Politicians in democracies cannot ignore their people. As for the Arabs, they must realize that this transformation represents a historic opportunity that must be built upon organized, rational action, not emotional rhetoric.