Gaza residents await Israeli election outcome

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are watching Tuesday's Israeli election with anxiety, weighing the potential impact of a new government on their daily lives.

The territory has operated under a ceasefire since October 2025, yet residents report near-daily air strikes, harsh living conditions, and a persistent siege that limits the supply of basic goods.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the incumbent Prime Minister, faces a challenge from Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander. The campaign has been defined by the war, with Netanyahu drawing criticism for his security handling before the October 7, 2023, attacks. Members of his far-right cabinet have pushed for stricter measures in Gaza, including the expulsion of the population.

Israel currently controls approximately 65 percent of Gaza, an area demarcated as the Yellow Line. The war has damaged more than 80 percent of buildings in the territory. Of that total, about two-thirds are completely destroyed.

Mohammed Eliyan, 36, was displaced from the Jabalia refugee camp and now lives in Deir el-Balah with five children. He supports Eisenkot and fears that a second term for Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies will bring more displacement. Eliyan said, "They are still our enemy, and I don't expect things to improve dramatically," adding that he hopes for a leader who is "less harsh."

Islam Salem, 41, a father of three displaced from Beit Lahiya, believes the election result will likely worsen his children's future. He argued that the approach to Gaza will remain consistent under any government. Salem doubted that reconstruction would start soon, stating, "We live day by day. Everything we feared has already happened."

Hanan Abu al-Maaza, 57, has been displaced more than 12 times during the conflict. She fears worse treatment from the next government but believes a Netanyahu loss increases her chances of returning to Beit Lahiya. She said, "We have had enough of war and destruction. There is nothing left to destroy, yet the suffering continues."

Manar Owaida, 23, who lives in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, views Eisenkot as a less extreme alternative to Netanyahu. She believes a new government might ease the blockade and withdraw from areas beyond the Yellow Line. Her primary fear is that Netanyahu could launch a wider regional war to deflect domestic political pressure around the vote.

Mousa Ali, 33, a father of four displaced from Beit Lahiya, says the Yellow Line is the deciding factor for Palestinians. He hopes Arab parties perform strongly enough to influence the next government. Ali stated, "We hope this policy will end and that a new prime minister will stop this ongoing bloodshed."