As Israel approaches its election scheduled for Tuesday, residents of the Gaza Strip watch with a mixture of anxiety and skepticism, uncertain whether a change in government will affect their lives amid ongoing conflict and hardship. For Palestinians living under conditions shaped by years of war, blockade, and displacement, the electoral contest offers little hope of substantive change.
Abdullah Mohammed, 65, a resident of the Al Bureij refugee camp, voiced widespread exhaustion among Gaza's population. “My biggest fear is that we will think the war is over, only for it to start again,” he said, highlighting the constant insecurity facing civilians in the area. “We are exhausted. … All we want is to live in safety without constantly worrying about what tomorrow will bring.”
The 2023 conflict, triggered by Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, left a deep scar on both sides. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched extensive military operations in Gaza that have resulted in significant Palestinian casualties. According to local Gaza health officials, more than 74,000 Palestinians have died. A United Nations independent commission has accused Israel of committing genocide, a claim firmly rejected by Israeli authorities.
Currently, Israeli forces control approximately two-thirds of Gaza, confining nearly two million Palestinians to a fraction of the territory, where many live in tents and damaged structures. The humanitarian situation remains dire, compounded by the ongoing blockade restricting movement, goods, and services.
Political observers in Gaza express little expectation for a shift in Israeli policy regardless of the election outcome. Walid al-Awad, a member of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian People’s Party, said that past governments have differed in name but largely maintained similar approaches to Gaza and the West Bank, settlements, and broader Palestinian rights. “What matters to us is not the name of the party that wins, but the policies it will adopt toward the Palestinian people,” he noted.
Both leading Israeli candidates—incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot—oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Both have also stated that military action against Hamas could resume if the group does not disarm. Meanwhile, U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks have yet to produce an agreement on disarmament or withdrawal.
Imad Mohsen, a Gaza-based analyst specializing in Israeli affairs, echoed the prevailing sentiment of continuity. “Successive Israeli governments have differed in their political positions and composition, but their approach toward Palestinians has remained largely the same, including wars and repeated rounds of military escalation,” he said.
Until a decisive resolution emerges, Palestinians in Gaza remain cautious as they observe Israel’s democratic process unfold, aware that their daily reality is shaped not just by elections but by entrenched political and military dynamics.