Across capitals and campuses, Israel’s standing has sunk to a new low as the genocidal war in Gaza continues to dominate public consciousness. A recent global brand perception survey places Israel at the bottom of its rankings for a second consecutive year, marking the steepest decline recorded since the index was created nearly two decades ago. Conducted in late summer 2025, the study shows an overall score drop of just over six per cent from the previous year, reflecting a sharp and sustained erosion of goodwill.

What is striking this time is the breadth of the backlash. Where criticism once focused narrowly on state policy, sentiment has widened to encompass attitudes toward Israelis more generally, with reports of people being treated abroad as unwelcome. The shift between 2024 and 2025 is described by analysts as decisive: the genocidal war on a besieged Palestinian territory has altered perceptions so deeply that Israel is now widely framed as illegitimate and colonial, rather than merely controversial. That judgement is increasingly echoed far beyond the Middle East.

The economic consequences are proving equally severe. Confidence has ebbed among investors, tourism has fallen away, and Israel’s place within international forums has weakened. Consumers in multiple markets are turning away from goods associated with the occupied territories, with “Made in Israel” labels drawing particular scrutiny amid expanding boycott campaigns. In measures of export and product perception, Israel now ranks last, underscoring how moral outrage is translating into market behaviour.

Public opinion data from Europe and North America reinforce the picture. Support has slumped to historic lows across Britain, France, Germany, southern Europe and Scandinavia, while in the United States a clear majority now view Israel unfavourably, a sharp rise compared with attitudes before October 2023. Similar findings appear across Asia and elsewhere, with younger generations in Western Europe especially critical. Since the start of the genocidal war, roughly 71,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the blockaded territories, a toll that continues to shape how the world judges the state responsible.