New Knesset Class Defined by October 7 Losses and War Experience
Forty-six first-time lawmakers enter the Israeli parliament, many of whom are bereaved families, reservists, and military officials directly impacted by the 2023 Hamas attack.
By Amir Navarro ·
When the new Knesset is sworn in this Tuesday, 46 of its 120 members will be taking their seats as first-time lawmakers. This incoming group, which spans the political spectrum, includes former defense officials, political commentators, and a significant number of individuals with personal ties to the Hamas assault of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war. Among them are parents and siblings of those killed or abducted, reservists, and a former general who led a rescue mission for his own family near the Gaza border.
The presence of these newcomers creates a direct link between the parliament and the national trauma of the attack. Many of these members have spent years as activists, lobbying for hostage releases or pushing for policy reforms to prevent future catastrophes. Now holding legislative power, they aim to drive change from within the government. The number of freshmen is double the 23 first-time lawmakers elected in 2022, though it remains slightly below the record of 49 set in 2019.
Yashar, a new party, has the highest number of newcomers, with 15 of its 21 incoming members being first-time MPs. Notable among them is Shira Shapiro, an urban planner and mother of Aner Shapiro, an unarmed soldier killed defending civilians at the Nova music festival. Shapiro stated that the personal tragedy of October 7 motivated her to enter public service to restore trust and unity. Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot, who is not a newcomer, also lost his son and two nephews in the war, framing the national grief as a shared condition for the people of Israel.
Likud is bringing in five new faces, several of whom were selected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Talik Gvili, a bereaved mother whose son was killed on October 7 and whose body was returned after more than 800 days in Gaza, is breaking with many other grieving relatives by aligning with Netanyahu's government. She credited the prime minister with ensuring her son's return. Additionally, Elisha Madan, a reservist who lost both legs in a 2024 blast in Gaza, has joined the party, praising the military's control over territory and the return of all hostages.
The B'Yachad party includes six new members, three of whom were personally affected by the war. Retired Major General Noam Tibon, who famously rescued his family from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the attack, has become a vocal advocate for drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the military. He joined the party after it merged with Naftali Bennett's movement. Michal Hirsch Negri, a former city manager who lost her son at Kibbutz Be'eri, expressed deep trust in Bennett's leadership. Yonatan Shalev, set to become the youngest MP in history, co-founded a movement campaigning against military service exemptions.
In Yisrael Beytenu, two of the three newcomers have direct connections to the events of October 7. Rafi Ben Shitrit, whose son was killed at the Nahal Oz army base, helped found the October Council, a group critical of the government's response. He has called for a state commission of inquiry. Sharon Sharabi, whose two brothers were abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri, joined the party due to its security-focused stance. One of his brothers was released, while the other was killed in captivity.
The Democrats party has two first-time members who served extensive reserve duty after the attack. Yair Golan, the party leader, gained praise for rescuing people at the Nova festival site. His party includes reservists Yair Fink and Omri Ronen, who have served over 210 and 350 days, respectively. Both were active in anti-government protests and campaigns against judicial reforms and ultra-Orthodox exemptions. Meanwhile, Religious Zionism newcomer Tzvika Mor, whose son was held hostage for 738 days, led the Tikva Forum, a group that opposed partial release deals. Other parties, including the Joint List and United Torah Judaism, also have a number of first-time members, though many lack direct personal connections to the October 7 attack.
The diverse backgrounds of these 46 new lawmakers reflect the broad impact of the war on Israeli society. From the far right to the center and left, the new Knesset is populated by individuals who have lived through the war as soldiers, bereaved families, or activists. Their entry into politics signals a shift toward a legislature deeply engaged with the issues of security, hostage policy, and national recovery.
