Israelis vote in first election since October 7 attacks as exit polls show deadlock

Summary

Israelis voted on 27 October in the first general election since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. Reports describe a near-record turnout of 77.7 per cent, the highest since 1999, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights to retain power. Channel NewsAsia reports that exit polls show a deadlock, a setback for Netanyahu, and The Straits Times says both camps hold out cautious hope in a tight vote. France 24 frames the election as a referendum on the October 7 attacks, and Africanews reports that there is no clear winner. None of these articles gives final vote results.

Timeline

1. Hindustan Times

   27 Oct 2026, 18:00 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports record voter turnout as Israel holds its first election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023, with Netanyahu fighting to retain power.

2. Channel NewsAsia

   27 Oct 2026, 20:29 UTCSource ↗

   Channel NewsAsia reports a near-record turnout of 77.7 per cent and says exit polls show a deadlock, a setback for Netanyahu.

3. France 24

   27 Oct 2026, 21:26 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Israelis cast ballots in their largest numbers in decades in the first general election since the October 7 attacks, and frames the vote as a referendum on that day.

4. The Straits Times

   28 Oct 2026, 01:26 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports a 77.7% turnout, the highest since 1999, and says both camps hold out cautious hope in a tight vote.

5. Africanews

   28 Oct 2026, 10:28 UTCSource ↗

   Africanews reports that there is no clear winner in Israel's first election since the 2023 Hamas attack, and says the vote is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's handling of the conflict, with turnout the highest in decades.