Gazans Await Tuesday Vote Amid 65 Percent Israeli Control

Palestinians in Gaza are following the upcoming Israeli election with a mix of anxiety and limited expectation of change.

Israelis will vote on Tuesday, October 27, while Gaza observes a ceasefire that began in October 2025. Despite the truce, residents report facing near-daily air strikes and a siege that has limited the supply of basic goods.

The campaign has been heavily influenced by the war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces criticism regarding security preparations before the October 7, 2023, attacks. Members of his far-right coalition have advocated for a stricter approach, including proposals to expel the Gazan population.

Mohammed Eliyan, 36, was displaced from the Jabalia refugee camp and now resides in Deir el-Balah with five children. He supports Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander and Netanyahu's main rival. Eliyan fears a second Netanyahu term would bring further displacement. "They are still our enemy, and I don't expect things to improve dramatically," Eliyan said. He hopes the next leader will be less harsh.

Islam Salem, 41, believes the election result will likely worsen the future for his three daughters, also displaced from Beit Lahiya. Salem argues that elections primarily serve Israeli interests and that policy toward Gaza will remain consistent. He cites Israel's control of 65 percent of Gaza inside the Yellow Line. More than 80 percent of buildings in the territory have been damaged, with two-thirds of those completely destroyed. "We live day by day," Salem said. "Everything we feared has already happened."

Hanan Abu al-Maaza, 57, has been displaced more than twelve times during the conflict. She dreads worse treatment from the incoming government. If Netanyahu loses, she sees a better chance of returning to her home in Beit Lahiya. "We have had enough of war and destruction," she said. "There is nothing left to destroy, yet the suffering continues."

Manar Owaida, 23, currently displaced in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City, also prefers Eisenkot. She views Netanyahu as more extreme. Owaida argues that Israeli policy has remained consistent for decades. She believes a new government might ease the blockade and withdraw from areas beyond the Yellow Line. Her primary fear is that Netanyahu might launch a wider regional war to relieve domestic pressure around the vote.

Mousa Ali, 33, a father of four displaced from Beit Lahiya, sees the election as critical for the future of the Yellow Line and the return of displaced people. He hopes Eisenkot wins and that Arab parties gain enough strength to influence the next government. Ali does not expect major changes, though. He believes a Netanyahu victory would prolong displacement and control around the line.

Residents shared a common request for Israel's next leader: end the war and stop the bloodshed. "We hope this policy will end and that a new prime minister will stop this ongoing bloodshed," Ali said.