Starvation Campaign in Gaza Drives Sharpest Rise in Negative U.S. Local Media Coverage of Israel
A new study by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) analyzed nearly 3,000 opinion pieces, articles, and letters from 17 leading U.S. local newspapers between January 2024 and June 2026 to identify which events most influenced American public perception of Israel at the local level. The research found that claims and images related to the starvation campaign against Gaza residents in summer 2025 caused the highest surge in negative coverage of Israel, surpassing even major military operations or the Rafah incursion. In August 2025, nearly half (48%) of opinion pieces were negative, with over 40% mentioning terms like "hunger" and "starvation," highlighting the narrative’s strong impact.
By contrast, May 2024, during the Rafah incursion, saw the largest volume of coverage but only about one-third of it was negative, indicating that high coverage volume does not necessarily correlate with negativity. Similarly, the June 2025 "With the Dog" operation had a balanced tone, with equal shares of positive and negative articles. However, the March 2026 "Roar of the Lion" operation saw a significant rise in negative coverage (37%) compared to positive (11%), likely due to U.S. involvement and perceptions of Israeli influence on American policy toward Iran.
The study also noted that humanitarian events, such as the second hostage exchange in January 2025, corresponded with some of the lowest negative coverage rates, suggesting that direct humanitarian contexts can soften criticism. Other events causing spikes in negativity included the February 2024 "Flour Incident," where a Palestinian crowd attacked humanitarian aid trucks, resulting in dozens of deaths, and a cluster of incidents in August 2024 involving hostage body recoveries and a controversial airstrike on a school.
Researchers used advanced AI sentiment analysis to assess tone changes and linked shifts to specific events, sometimes multiple concurrent ones. The study highlights that local U.S. media, often overlooked in favor of national outlets, play a crucial role in shaping public opinion through sustained narratives. JPPI CEO Dr. Shuki Friedman emphasized that humanitarian narratives strongly influence perceptions and that Israel must conduct a rapid, professional, and credible information campaign alongside military efforts to maintain international legitimacy.
