Survey Finds Deepening Divisions in UK Friendships Over Israel-Palestine Conflict

A new survey has revealed that debates surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict are placing significant strain on personal relationships in the UK, with many people willing to cut ties over opposing views. The research, conducted by the More in Common think tank, questioned 2,000 adults in October and found sharply rising tensions amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

According to the findings, 43 percent of respondents who identified as pro-Palestine said they would consider ending a friendship over a pro-Israel post on social media. On the other side, 46 percent of those who support Israel said they would take the same step toward friends expressing pro-Palestine views. The results highlight how disagreements over the conflict have increasingly spilled into private life, affecting long-standing relationships.

The study also revealed widespread discomfort in discussing the topic at all. About 75 percent of those surveyed said they felt uneasy raising it online, while around 30 percent reported feeling somewhat or very uncomfortable discussing it with friends. Researchers said the reluctance stems partly from fear of backlash, as well as concerns about how views might be interpreted or mischaracterised.

The findings also showed growing frustration over protest movements. Some 67 percent of respondents said they believed certain demonstrations related to the conflict should be banned due to disruptions caused in major cities. More in Common noted that public tolerance for large-scale protests has dropped significantly, saying that prolonged marches linked to Gaza have fed into a broader dissatisfaction with activist groups.

Sympathy for Israel has declined modestly since the early weeks of the conflict. Only 14 percent said they felt sympathetic toward Israel, down from 16 percent in November 2023. Sympathy for Palestinians stood at 26 percent. Another 27 percent said they supported neither side, while 18 percent said they felt sympathy for both. The remainder were undecided. The think tank said it observed that individuals with strong views on either side had grown more negative toward those who disagreed, deepening political and social divides.

Concerns about community safety have also risen. In the wake of last month’s attack on a synagogue in Manchester, 44 percent of respondents said they believed the UK had become unsafe for Jews. Another 37 percent said they felt Muslims in the UK were unsafe due to rising tensions and reported incidents of hate.

Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, said the conflict had eroded trust in media organisations and political institutions. He warned that people with strong opinions are turning toward self-selected online sources, narrowing their exposure to differing viewpoints and making public debate more difficult. Tryl added that the majority of Britons feel shocked by the conflict but avoid taking sides, while Jewish and Muslim communities continue to face the most direct consequences. He urged government and civil society groups to work toward easing divisions that could have lasting effects on social cohesion.