Hamas’ 2023 attack pushes Israel’s young voters to the right

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 11, 2026

Israel’s upcoming elections in October are being heavily influenced by security concerns among first-time voters, many of whom are shifting toward far-right parties in response to the legacy of the October 7 Hamas attack and ongoing conflict with Gaza. This trend marks a significant departure from typical youth political leanings in Western democracies and suggests a generation shaped by protracted violence and skepticism toward peace efforts.

As Israel approaches its upcoming elections in October, the legacy of Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, continues to shape the political outlook of the country’s youngest voters. Among the approximately 550,000 Israelis turning 18 and voting for the first time, security concerns have emerged as the defining priority.

Eighteen-year-old Amihai from Shomria, a town near the Gaza border, exemplifies this trend. Speaking from a vantage point overlooking devastated areas of northern Gaza—subject to extensive Israeli bombardment since the conflict’s outbreak—Amihai said he will support a far-right party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. His decision underscores a sense of urgency tied to the conflict’s human toll. “I’m voting based solely on security—not for whoever will help me buy an apartment in 10 years, but for whoever can guarantee that I’ll even still be alive here in 10 years,” he said.

Amihai’s stance reflects broader shifts in Israeli youth political orientation. A recent poll showed that 74% of first-time voters identify with right or center-right views, outpacing the general population’s right-leaning tendencies. This marks a divergence from trends in many Western democracies, where younger generations often lean more left.

Analysts attribute the rightward shift among Israeli youth to the political climate surrounding their formative years. Dahlia Scheindlin, a pollster and political analyst, noted the stark generational contrast: “Older people… remember the hope of reaching full, comprehensive peace agreements with the Palestinians. Anybody who’s an 18-year-old now, his or her political consciousness is under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; it’s a very ultranationalist environment.” She added that for the new generation, peace is no longer a central consideration.

Not all young Israelis share this outlook. At a recent gathering of young activists supporting the center-left Democrats party in Tel Aviv, 18-year-old Gili expressed frustration with the prevailing political climate. She described fear, triggered by the trauma of the October 7 attack that resulted in 1,221 Israeli deaths, as pushing young people to adopt more right-wing views. Meanwhile, she and her peers advocate for renewed efforts to reach a political agreement with the Palestinians, warning that without change, the ongoing conflict threatens the future viability of Israeli society.

The aftermath of the attack also saw Israel launch a military campaign in Gaza, which according to Gaza Health Ministry figures reports over 74,000 fatalities, highlighting the conflict’s devastating toll on both sides.

Yishai Neeman, a 19-year-old yeshiva student from Petah Tikva preparing for military conscription, represents another segment of Israeli youth whose political stance has hardened. Supporting the far-right Religious Zionism party led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Neeman rejected the possibility of peace under current conditions, advocating for Israeli annexation of the West Bank and the elimination of Palestinian statehood aspirations. “That’s why now we must fight and win decisively,” he said, emphasizing the need for a definitive outcome to the conflict.

As Israel’s election approaches, the political preferences of first-time voters reflect a nation grappling with security fears and deep divisions over the country’s future direction amid ongoing tensions with the Palestinians.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.