As Israel prepares for elections, Palestinians in Gaza brace for an outcome that could significantly impact their future. With nearly 75,000 people killed and much of the territory reduced to rubble, the humanitarian catastrophe has been largely ignored in the election campaign.
Election Context
Both Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition Yashar party have focused on the goal of destroying Hamas following the October 7 attacks, while the dire situation in Gaza has received little attention.
““We hope a government will come to power that is less inclined towards killing, displacement and our extermination,” said Sami Abu Rumi, 47, from Rafah, now displaced in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. “But, ultimately, we see the thinking of Israeli governments as largely similar.”
Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has outlined a clear plan for Gaza’s future. Both support Donald Trump’s controversial peace plan and have vowed to end Hamas rule. Eisenkot, a former military chief, has pledged to restore Israel’s international standing after three years of war, but he is no dove.
Eisenkot's Military Background
Eisenkot, whose son and two nephews were killed fighting in Gaza, previously championed the “Dahiya doctrine,” advocating overwhelming force against civilian areas where militants operated. Critics argue this strategy has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, amounting to war crimes.
““Eisenkot talks of defeating Hamas, while Netanyahu boasts about military operations and the killing of Palestinians,” said Abu Rumi. “Gaza’s suffering has become campaign fodder. Meanwhile, families here struggle to feed their children, keep them in school and access medical care.”
