The story: A new poll indicates that most Saudis view the Palestinians and the wider Arab and Muslim worlds as the victors in the Gaza war. This comes as a rising number of journalists and pundits in the Kingdom portray Israel as weakened and “defeated.” At the same time, attacks on Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Ansarullah movement—better known as the Houthis—are fueling Saudi security concerns. Riyadh appears worried about the prospects of a broader regional conflagration.

The coverage: A Dec. 21 opinion poll conducted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy found that most Saudi respondents agreed with the statement that “despite the destruction and loss of life, this war in Gaza is a...