Voters cast ballots at the fastest pace on record as Israel holds its first national election since the October 2023 Hamas attack, with early turnout exceeding previous benchmarks.
Israelis surged to polling stations on Tuesday at a pace that broke records, delivering an early wartime judgment on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu three years after the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.
The Central Elections Committee reported that 44.9 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots within the first seven hours, with eight hours remaining, a figure officials said broke all prior records. Early counts showed turnout at 16.7 percent by 10 a.m. local time, the highest at that hour since 1981.
The contest pits Netanyahu’s Likud and its allies against an opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. No single party is expected to secure a clear majority.
Reuters and the Central Elections Committee confirm the record early turnout figures; Times of Israel and Al Jazeera report the same percentages and historical comparisons.
The high participation underscores the stakes of an election framed as a referendum on the wars that followed October 7. Exit polls are due after polls close at 10 p.m. local time.
People Sentiments Public Mood: Neutral
- Netanyahu urged supporters to match high turnout among opponents
- Eisenkot campaign emphasized security and unity