In the lead-up to Israel’s upcoming elections, key adversaries of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hopes for his defeat, reflecting their disenchantment with his administration’s policies and actions. Statements from figures closely aligned with hostile groups reveal a rare convergence in their anticipation of political change in Israel.
Sami Abu Shahadeh, leader of the Arab Democratic Bloc, predicted Netanyahu’s imminent fall, a view that aligns with the aspirations voiced by Hamas, which has openly denounced Netanyahu for years. Under Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel has intensified its operations against Hamas, resulting in the deaths of several senior Hamas commanders. Over the past three years, three of Hamas’s top military leaders—Muhammad Deif, Izz a-Din al-Hadad, and Muhammad Odeh—have been killed, a pace of attrition unprecedented since the group’s early years. Similarly, top political figures within Hamas, including Saleh Aruri, Ismail Haniyeh, and Yahya Sinwar, were eliminated in 2024 and 2025. These developments followed earlier Israeli operations that had taken the lives of key Hamas founders Ahmed Jabari in 2012 and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.
Despite these losses, Hamas’s ability to retaliate has diminished notably. Past Israeli strikes on Hamas leadership were often met with heavy rocket fire and sustained military responses. For instance, after Jabari’s killing in 2012, Hamas launched around 1,550 rockets, leading to days of intensive conflict. However, more recent targeted killings—such as those of Sinwar and the latest military chiefs—elicited little to no immediate military response from Hamas, suggesting a significant erosion of its operational capabilities. Analysts attribute this reduction to constant Israeli pressure, including abductions such as that of Mu’in al-Arabid, a senior Hamas security official, in Gaza earlier this month.
Hamas has also less frequently made political demands in exchange for ceasefires or reductions in violence in recent years, contrasting with prior instances in 2014 and 2021 when it set explicit conditions tied to Israeli policies, such as stopping arrests in the West Bank or managing tensions around the Temple Mount. Currently, Hamas relies mainly on appeals to international actors, including the United States, to enforce ceasefire agreements, while attributing its weakened state to Netanyahu’s leadership.
Likewise, Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy group based in Lebanon, has expressed animosity toward Netanyahu, whom it holds responsible for setbacks including the death of senior Lebanese figures and substantial losses among its fighters. Recent conflicts in Syria have also weakened Hezbollah’s position, depriving it of an important ally in the Assad regime. Hezbollah-affiliated media appear to favor Netanyahu’s political opponents in Israel, amplifying coverage critical of the current government and highlighting polls unfavorable to Netanyahu. Coverage includes references to statements by prominent figures, such as former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who expressed support for Israel but disapproval of Netanyahu’s government.
As Israelis prepare to cast their votes, adversaries such as Hamas and Hezbollah will be closely monitoring the results, unified in their desire to see Netanyahu replaced. While Israeli public opinion remains divided on the prime minister’s future, Israel’s enemies are expected to welcome any outcome that leads to a change in leadership.