Netanyahu and rivals make Oct 7 the centerpiece of Israel's election campaign
Both the incumbent and challengers are using the 2023 Hamas assault as a political framework as Israel heads to polls on Oct 27.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Israel’s first national election since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack is being framed around that day, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his opponents repeatedly invoking the tragedy in campaign material, according to reports from the Winnipeg Free Press and The Independent.
What happened
Campaign posters, stump speeches and televised debates across the country reference the Oct. 7 attack, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and left 251 hostages, and is described as the deadliest day in Israel’s 78‑year history. The election is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2026. Netanyahu, now 77, faces a loss that could end his long tenure, while his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot – whose son and nephew died in Gaza – and other challengers demand accountability for security failures.
What the reports add
- Tamar Hermann, a public‑opinion specialist at the Israel Democracy Institute, said the Oct. 7 tragedy has become “a framework for the entire political discussion” and that the electorate is collectively “post‑traumatic.”
- Netanyahu’s defenders argue he was betrayed by the military establishment and credit him with a “dramatic rebound” and a “war of redemption” after the crisis.
- Opponents label his outgoing coalition the “massacre government” and call for him to answer for the failures that led to the war.
- The campaign follows a series of legal battles: on Sep. 26, 2026 the election committee barred the Joint List and Ra’am from the ballot, a move the Supreme Court overturned on Oct. 2, reinstating the Arab lists and Hadash MK Ofer Cassif.
- Netanyahu’s Sep. 24 UN General Assembly speech compared the Oct. 7 casualties to “16 9/11s,” sparking walkouts and criticism from international leaders.
- The Independent linked the Sep. 30 attempted hijacking of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 to a potential boost for Netanyahu’s campaign, noting his recent travel on a similar route and his invitation to the injured captain as a guest of honour.
What was said
“October 7 is kind of a framework for the entire political discussion that is going on,” Tamar Hermann told the Associated Press.
Netanyahu said he is leading a “war of redemption.”
Opponents described his coalition as the “massacre government.”
How it came about
The election narrative is shaped by the Oct. 7 attack’s lasting impact, the legal tussle over Arab party participation, and Netanyahu’s controversial statements on the world stage. His UN remarks equating the attack to 16 9/11s intensified international scrutiny, while the FlyDubai incident was portrayed by some media as giving him a political lift ahead of the Oct. 27 vote.
Key facts
- Israel's election on Oct. 27, 2026 is being framed around the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Both Netanyahu and opponent Gadi Eisenkot reference the Oct. 7 attack in campaign material. (independent.co.uk)
- Tamar Hermann of the Israel Democracy Institute called Oct. 7 a framework for political discussion. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Timeline
- 2026-09-25 — Netanyahu compares Oct. 7 casualties to 16 9/11 attacks at UN General Assembly.
- 2026-09-26 — Israel election committee bans Arab parties from upcoming election.
- 2026-10-01 — Attempted hijacking of FlyDubai flight linked to Netanyahu's campaign.
- 2026-10-02 — Supreme Court overturns ban on Arab parties.
- 2026-10-03 — Netanyahu invites injured FlyDubai captain as guest of honour.
