British News Agency

According to CCTV, approximately 7.3 million voters are eligible to cast ballots in Tuesday's Israeli elections to select members of the 26th Knesset. The first election since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel, is also significant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future. Following the attack, Israel launched large-scale military operations in Gaza, and the conflict developed into regional tensions involving Lebanon and Iran.

The report noted that election results were being closely followed in Gaza, home to more than two million Palestinians. Palestinians who have endured years of war, destruction and difficulties accessing humanitarian aid believe that political change in Israel could affect their circumstances.

Faraj Abu Shaawish, a displaced Palestinian, said he hoped a left-leaning government would produce better outcomes than the policies of Netanyahu and his far-right partners. Shaawish argued that events in Gaza demonstrated the consequences of the current policies.

Hassan Al-Samri expressed hope that policies would change after the Israeli elections, saying they had been living in tents for nearly three years. Rania Al-Saudi, another displaced Palestinian, said they had feared renewed displacement and a return to war since the election process began.

The report said statements by some Israeli politicians advocating the relocation of Palestinians to other areas had heightened concerns among Gaza residents. It noted that many Palestinians had been displaced multiple times during the fighting.

Pre-election polls published in Israeli media identified the centrist Yashar Party, led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, and Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party among the prominent political forces.

Likud has played a decisive role in Israeli politics for much of the past two decades. The party leads a bloc of right-wing and religious parties that includes Otzma Yehudit, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir; the Religious Zionism Party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich; and the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties.

In the anti-Netanyahu opposition camp, the Together alliance brings together supporters of former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, advocate civil liberties and a two-state solution. The right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu Party, led by Avigdor Lieberman, traditionally draws support from Russian-speaking Israelis.

Two political lists representing predominantly Arab constituencies are also competing in the elections. The Joint List, which brings together Hadash, Ta'al and Balad, advocates the rights of Palestinian citizens and an end to the Israeli occupation. Ra'am focuses on improving living conditions in Arab communities and has previously participated in a governing coalition.

Smaller parties polling near the electoral threshold could also play a decisive role in the distribution of seats. Votes cast for lists that fail to cross the electoral threshold are not included in the allocation of parliamentary seats.