Israel sets October date for first elections since Hamas attacks in 2023

What Happened

Israel will hold national elections on 27 October 2025, the first since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023. The Knesset is set to dissolve on Friday, with the far-right government rushing to pass legislation including splitting the attorney general’s powers and equating Torah study with military service. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 76, campaigns on a security platform while standing trial for corruption. Leading opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief of staff whose party Yashar overtook Likud in a recent Kan News poll (24 projected seats to Likud’s 23), positions himself as a candidate of professional experience and personal sacrifice. Settler violence in the occupied West Bank is expected to continue until election day, and regional wars in Gaza and Iran form the backdrop.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

These elections are the first since the 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent regional wars, offering a referendum on Netanyahu’s security record and diplomatic isolation. The outcome could reshape Israel’s approach to the Palestinian territories, settlements, and regional relations. Even a change of leadership may bring limited policy shift, given Eisenkot’s past military role in the West Bank and his participation in the post-October 7 unity government.

Watch For

Monitor final legislation rushed through the Knesset before dissolution; shifts in polling ahead of the 27 October vote; settler violence escalations in the West Bank; international reactions, especially from the US; and post-election coalition negotiations that will determine actual policy direction.