In Israel’s election, Netanyahu faces a reckoning over Oct. 7 failure

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Netanyahu Faces Reckoning Over Oct 7 Failures Ahead of Vote

   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces intense scrutiny and political pressure regarding his handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack as Israel approaches the October 27 election. Polling shows Gadi Eisenkot leading Netanyahu, while an Eisenkot bloc holds at 54 seats. Public sentiment, internal coalition pressures, and disputes over accountability and investigations dominate the campaign. Former aides have publicly accused the Prime Minister's office of attempting to alter records surrounding the timing of events on October 7 and prioritizing political survival over captive exchange deals.

   Why it matters

   The upcoming election serves as a critical test for Netanyahu's political legacy amid enduring scars from the October 7 assault. Questions regarding security failures and the absence of a formal state inquiry remain central issues for voters and first-time participants. The political landscape is further complicated by shifting alliances and debates over who should control any future commission of inquiry.

   What is confirmed

   • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future faces a tough test ahead of the 2026 election.
   • Avi Gil accused the Prime Minister's Office of falsifying records related to Oct. 7, 2023, including altering the recorded time of a key phone call.
   • Avi Gil alleged that Netanyahu shelved a captive exchange deal because an agreement threatened his governing coalition.
   • A poll indicated that Gadi Eisenkot leads Benjamin Netanyahu, with the Eisenkot bloc holding at 54 seats.
   • Netanyahu has repeatedly called for an investigation into Oct. 7 without establishing one, leaving the dispute over who appoints its members unresolved.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Naftali Bennett could potentially rescue Benjamin Netanyahu from an election deadlock.

   What to watch next

   • The outcome of the October 27 election
   • Any official response or investigation into the allegations regarding altered October 7 records
   • Shifting seat allocations and potential coalition formations between Netanyahu and rival blocs
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. www.nytimes.com — The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos
   2. www.wionews.com — Israel Knesset election 2026: Biggest challenges threatening ...
   3. The New York Times — An Israeli Election Like No Other
   4. Al Jazeera — How genocidal war on Gaza is shaping Israel’s election
   5. The Jerusalem Post — Israel election poll: Gadi Eisenkot leads Benjamin Netanyahu, but no clear path to majority
   6. The Jerusalem Post — New poll finds majority support televised showdown between Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot
   7. The Forward — In Israel’s election, Netanyahu faces a reckoning over Oct. 7 failure
   8. The Times of Israel — ‘Peace is not in people’s minds’: October 7 scars take center stage for first-time voters
   9. Fox News — Benjamin Netanyahu's legacy and political future on the line in Israel's Oct 27 election
   10. The Jerusalem Post — Israel election: Could Naftali Bennett rescue Benjamin Netanyahu from an election deadlock?
   11. The New York Times — The Oct. 7 Attack Changed Israel, but Not Its Politics
   12. Haaretz — Poll: Eisenkot Bloc Holds at 54 Seats as Hard-Line Ex-General's Party Falls Short
   confidence 90%