Separate surveys by YouGov and Pew Research show declining favourability toward Israel across Europe, with negative ratings in several Western nations.
BY PC Bureau
April 24, 2026: A new study released on April 21, 2026, by the UNESCO Chair for Interdisciplinary Research on Antisemitism at the University of Warsaw has highlighted shifting public sentiment in Central and Eastern Europe regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The research, conducted by specialists in Holocaust studies and prejudice from universities across Eastern Europe, found that 45% of respondents in Poland agreed with the statement that “Israel’s actions against Palestinians are no different from the Nazis’ treatment of Jews.” Around 18.7% disagreed, while 36.2% said they had no clear opinion. Poland recorded the highest level of agreement among the countries surveyed, with lower but notable levels observed in Slovakia, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
The findings come amid a broader trend of declining favourability toward Israel across parts of Europe. A YouGov survey conducted in June 2025 reported historically low support for Israel in Western Europe, with net favourability ratings turning sharply negative in countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. Similarly, a Pew Research Center survey from spring 2025 found that in 20 out of 24 countries surveyed globally, around half or more of respondents held unfavourable views of Israel, including in several European nations.
WIĘKSZOŚĆ BADANYCH POLAKÓW UZNAŁA, ŻE DZIAŁANIA IZRAELA PRZYPOMINAJĄ TE PROWADZONE PRZEZ III RZESZĘ!
45% Polaków uznało, że „działania Izraela wobec Palestyńczyków niczym nie różnią się od traktowania Żydów przez nazistów”. Tylko 18,7% wyraziło sprzeciw wobec takiego porównania.… pic.twitter.com/DpVWlYpuJc
— Paweł Usiądek (@PUsiadek) April 22, 2026
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These shifts in public opinion have unfolded against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which began with the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.
In Poland, the survey results also follow a recent controversy in parliament. In mid-April 2026, far-right lawmaker Konrad Berkowicz displayed a modified Israeli flag featuring a swastika in place of the Star of David and described Israel as the “new Third Reich.” The incident drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Poland’s historical context adds further sensitivity to such comparisons. As the site of major Nazi concentration and extermination camps, including Auschwitz, public discourse involving references to the Holocaust remains highly charged and closely scrutinised.
Researchers cautioned that the study measured responses to a specific and strongly worded comparison, rather than overall attitudes toward Israel. The large proportion of undecided respondents also suggests that public opinion remains divided. Analysts note that perceptions of ongoing conflicts are often shaped by media coverage, timing, and the framing of survey questions.
While the findings point to measurable shifts in sections of European public opinion, they do not reflect a uniform continental stance. Governments across Europe continue to balance diplomatic and strategic ties with Israel while voicing concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaz
