Israel holds crucial general elections following 2023 conflict

On October 27, 2026, Israel held its first general elections since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Approximately 7.3 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots across 12,018 polling stations to elect members of the 26th Knesset. The election is widely viewed as a referendum on the long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a tight contest against former military chief Gadi Eizenkot. Neither side was projected to secure a clear parliamentary majority, leading to expectations of complex post-election negotiations.

Throughout the day, authorities reported record-high turnout, reaching 31.5% by midday, the highest level since 1973. Despite the high participation, the process was marked by reports of vandalism and election-related irregularities. Several parties alleged sabotage, including the removal or misplacement of ballots. Authorities confirmed the arrest of suspects involved in an attempted bribery scheme involving cash payments. The Central Election Committee noted that polls would remain open if long queues persist beyond the 22:00 deadline. Official results are expected to be finalized by early November, while Benjamin Netanyahu will remain caretaker Prime Minister until a new coalition is formed.