Arabic version: سكان غزة يراقبون الانتخابات الإسرائيلية بخوف

According to Al Jazeera, Palestinians in Gaza are closely watching Israel’s October 27 national election despite having no direct role in the vote. The result will determine Israel’s next government and could shape policies affecting Gaza, where people have endured destruction and displacement since the war began in October 2023.

Maryam al-Dabala, 30, who said she has been displaced about 14 times during the war, fears another government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and supported by far-right ministers. She said such an outcome could mean continued forced displacement, shortages of aid and medicine, and worsening access to basic necessities. Al-Dabala said the tents where people live do not protect them from cold or bombardment.

A ceasefire that took effect on October 10 has not ended violence in Gaza, where at least 1,399 Palestinians have been killed and 4,863 injured since then. Almost all of Gaza’s population has been displaced at some point during the war, often more than once, and many continue to live in tents or temporary structures.

Osama al-Arbaei, 65, said he did not expect fundamental change regardless of the election winner. Displaced more than a dozen times after his Gaza City home was bombed and nine relatives were killed, he said food remained expensive and work was unavailable. Umm Mohammed Khalil, 59, also voiced fear that violence could intensify, calling for compassion and an end to death, destruction, displacement, food shortages and lack of water.

Israeli affairs expert Ahed Farawaneh told Al Jazeera that the race remained uncertain, with recent polls suggesting neither the governing bloc nor the opposition would independently secure the 61 Knesset seats needed to form a government. He said a Netanyahu-led government would likely maintain its approach to Gaza, while an opposition-led administration might respond more to international pressure but would still face pressure from the Israeli far right.