Palestinians who have endured years of war are watching with bated breath as they await the outcome of Israel's closely fought election, with many concerned about what the vote could mean for the future for the Gaza Strip.
Israel held a parliamentary election on Tuesday, the first to take place since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023 sparked a devastating Israeli retaliation that saw Gaza decimated and tensions spiral into a wider regional conflict.
The election pitted incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- Israel's longest-serving leader with nearly 19 years in office across multiple different terms -- against former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Early results show that neither candidate appears to have secured the majority needed to form a government, paving the way for yet more uncertainty.
While the politics plays out in Israel, in Gaza the most urgent concern is simply about daily survival. Food shortages and limited humanitarian supplies continue to put pressure on families struggling to feed their children, leaving many dependent on aid deliveries.
Over the past three years, Gaza has suffered catastrophic destruction, leaving a profound humanitarian catastrophe across the territory. More than 74,000 people have been killed in the enclave since the conflict erupted and over 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced.
"We are suffering from hunger, and we have children who need food and water. I pray that the Israeli election will bring us something better, that the crossings will open, aid will be allowed in, and our lives will improve," said displaced Palestinian Manal Nour.
Gaza's dependence on supplies entering through Israeli-controlled crossings leaves its food system highly vulnerable to disruptions. For bakeries, maintaining a steady supply of flour and fuel is essential to keeping bread available to residents.
"If the crossings close for even one day, all of Gaza goes hungry. They must remain open every day so that everything we need is available. Without the crossings, we starve. We depend on daily supplies to meet our needs, so the crossings must not be closed," said a local baker named Salah Dawas.
A United Nations inquiry report released Monday accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza under the current ceasefire, adding to international concerns over its policies as Palestinians await the election's outcome.
With peace still a distant prospect for Palestinians and humanitarian conditions continuing to deteriorate, many have little hope for change.
"I don't expect any change in Israeli policy because I believe Israeli ideology is aimed at undermining the Palestinian presence on its land. Therefore, I think Israel will continue targeting Gaza, maintaining the blockade, preventing aid deliveries and imposing restrictions," said Mohammed Salha, director of the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO).
Palestinians hold breath as uncertainty over Israeli election leaves Gaza in limbo
