Israelis vote in first election since Oct 7 attacks, testing Netanyahu's grip on power

Summary

Israelis began voting on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in the first parliamentary elections since the 7 October 2023 attacks, a race that tests Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's grip on power. Polling stations opened at 7am local time and were due to close at 10pm, with 36 electoral lists contesting 120 Knesset seats and over 7 million people eligible to vote. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, faces a tough challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party. Polls put Eisenkot's party ahead of Netanyahu's Likud but suggest his bloc could fall short of the 61 seats needed for a majority, at around 50 seats, and neither bloc is projected to win a majority on its own. Palestinian-led parties are projected to win a combined 14 to 16 seats, potentially giving them leverage in government formation. Turnout reached 16.68 percent in the first three hours, the highest at that stage since 1981, the Central Elections Committee said.

Timeline

1. Hindustan Times

   27 Oct 2026, 06:12 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports in its live updates that Israelis are voting today, that Netanyahu faces a tough challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and other opposition leaders, and that the final vote tally is expected by October 30 as exit polls show no clear winner.

2. South China Morning Post

   27 Oct 2026, 07:00 UTCSource ↗

   The South China Morning Post reports that Israelis are voting in a pivotal election on Tuesday while the country is embroiled in unresolved wars, and that opinion polls suggest a tight race between Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, with over 7 million people eligible to vote.

3. Middle East Eye

   27 Oct 2026, 08:56 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that polling stations opened at 7am local time in the first parliamentary elections since the 7 October 2023 attacks, with 36 electoral lists contesting 120 seats, and that polls suggest Netanyahu's bloc could fall short of the 61 seats needed for a majority.

4. Middle East Eye

   27 Oct 2026, 09:30 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that polls opened at 7am local time as Israelis began voting in the first parliamentary elections since the 7 October 2023 attacks, with Netanyahu facing a tough challenge from opposition rival Gadi Eisenkot.

5. Middle East Eye

   27 Oct 2026, 09:30 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye's live blog reports that early turnout reached 16.68 percent in the first three hours, the highest at that stage since 1981, according to the Central Elections Committee.